CABINET OFFICE

Child Poverty

Vera Baird: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps his Department is taking to achieve the Government's targets of ending child poverty by 2020, and halving it by 2010; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Government set out the steps that Departments across Government are taking to achieve the targets of ending child poverty by 2020 and halving it by 2010 in the Child Poverty Review, published alongside the 2004 Spending Review and available at http://www.hmtreasury.gov.uk/spending_review/spend _sr04/associated_documents/spending_sr04_childpover ty.cfm

PRIME MINISTER

Iraq

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations he has received requesting publication of the advice he was given by the Attorney-General in respect of the legality of the Iraq war.

Tony Blair: I have received representations regarding the publication of the Attorney-General's advice on the legality of the Iraq war in the form of parliamentary questions, letters and Freedom of Information requests to my office.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister whether he sought advice on what standard he should apply in determining on 14 March 2003 that Iraq was in material breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1441.

Tony Blair: As Lord Butler noted in his report, in coming to the view that Iraq was in further material breach under Operative paragraph 4 of UNSCR 1441:
	the Prime Minister took account both of the overall intelligence picture and of information from a wide range of other sources, including especially UNMOVIC information." (paragraph 385, HC 898)
	I also refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Leigh) during my evidence to the Liaison Committee on 8 February 2005.

Arctic Convoy Veterans

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions his officials have had with the Ministry of Defence regarding recognition for the Arctic Convoy veterans.

Tony Blair: There has been an ongoing consultation with the Ministry of Defence on the recognition of the Arctic Convoy veterans. I held a reception at Downing street on Monday evening for Arctic Convoy veterans and announced that their service is to be recognised by the institution of a new official Emblem, to be worn as a recognised addition to medals.

Freedom of Information

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the (a) documents and (b) other written material he has released to date in response to Freedom of Information requests; and what categories of information requested his Office has refused to release.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. Requests for information are considered on a case by case basis in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. There are no categories of information which the Cabinet Office has refused to release.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 21 February 2005, Official Report, column 37W, by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis).

Global Political Challenges

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of what the most pressing global political challenges are.

Tony Blair: In 2005, the most pressing challenges are dealing with the threat from international terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction. This year presents an opportunity to make significant progress towards a lasting peace settlement in the Middle East. Last week's London meeting on Supporting the Palestinian Authority was an important step forward. We need to build on the successful elections in Iraq and Afghanistan to secure a peaceful future for the people of both countries. We will also use our twin presidencies of the G8 and EU to tackle climate change and address the challenge of development in Africa.

Syria

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister what undertakings he gave to President Assad of Syria in December 2002 about future co-operation between the Government and Syria; and what subsequent discussions he has had on (a) alleged Syrian involvement in Iraq, (b) the presence of Syrian forces in the Lebanon and (c) relations between Syria and Israel.

Tony Blair: I made no undertakings to President Assad about future co-operation between the British and Syrian Governments, and have had no subsequent discussions on the issues raised.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

HIV/AIDS

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with ministers in India and Africa on targeting aid more effectively towards areas suffering from high levels of HIV/AIDS.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have recently discussed HIV/AIDS with Ministers in India, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda and Mozambique to help target aid for greatest impact. Following my meeting with the Indian Health Minister in October, we agreed to increase UK support to two highly vulnerable states.
	We will have further discussions later today with a number of ministers from countries with high rates of HIV/AIDS.

UN Aid Target

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the timetable for the UK to meet the UN target for aid of 0.7 per cent. of gross domestic product.

Hilary Benn: I held discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer during the last Spending Review in which it was agreed that total UK official development assistance (oda) will increase from £4 billion this year to almost £6.5 billion by 2007–08, and oda as a proportion of national income will increase from 0.34 per cent. in 2003 to 0.47 per cent. in 2007. The Government wishes to maintain those rates of growth in the overseas aid ratio which on this timetable would rise beyond 0.5 per cent. after 2008 and to 0.7 per cent. by 2013.

New Partnership for African Development

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the New Partnership for African Development.

Hilary Benn: The African Union—New Partnership for Africa's Development (AU-NEPAD), promotes African-led development and mutual accountability with donors. We support the AU-NEPAD politically through our commitments to the G8 Africa Action Plan and Africa Partners' Forum and financially through the UNDP Trust Fund, to which we have contributed £500,000 to date.
	One of its key aspects is the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), which reviews country performance in economic, political and corporate governance, and socio-economic development. Peer reviews are currently taking place in Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and Mauritius to which DFID has so far contributed over £400,000. DFID is ready to support the central costs of the APRM through the APRM Trust Fund when it is up and running.

St. Helena

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures he is taking to boost the economy of the island of St. Helena.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Measures are on-going, and will feature in talks between the St. Helena Government and a visiting DFID mission this week. Recent steps include a wide-ranging fiscal review, expanding the St. Helena Development Agency and a scheme to attract St. Helenians from overseas back to key island jobs. We are currently considering how best to provide for the island's future access needs. Decisions on this, in consultation with the St. Helena Government, will be announced as soon as it is possible to do so.

Palestinian Territories

Si�n Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance the Department is providing to encourage economic growth in the Palestinian territories.

Hilary Benn: In order to create an internal environment more attractive to private investors the UK is working closely with international partners to provide support to invigorate the Palestinian Authority's (PA) programmes of governance reforms. Specific UK assistance includes support for the PA's budget, a wide-ranging programme of public administration and civil service reform, and support for the civil police. But these developments, in order to be effective, must go hand in hand with the Government of Israel easing the restrictions on the movement of Palestinian people and goods.

Fairtrade

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to promote Fairtrade awareness.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The UK Government has been a major supporter of Fairtrade. Fairtrade sales in the UK are growing each year, reaching 140 million in 2004. By buying Fairtrade products such as coffee, tea, fruit and chocolate shoppers are helping farmers and other producers to earn a decent living and obtain good healthcare and education. Between 2002 and 2005 DFID gave 300,000 to the Fairtrade Foundation to help develop its product range. DFID have just announced a further 750,000 over three years. DFID also gives 164,000 to the Foundation through its Development Awareness programme to raise awareness in the UK of Fairtrade.

Zimbabwe

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on aid to Zimbabwe.

Hilary Benn: In view of the poor governance in Zimbabwe and the intransigence of her Government towards constructive dialogue with the international community, most donors, including the UK, have suspended conventional development programmes and now focus on humanitarian and HIV/AIDS programmes. In 200304 DFID spent 34 million on such programmes and expect to spend 25 million in the current financial year. The main areas of our support include HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and mitigation and direct support to some 1.5 million of the poorest households in the country, in the form of food, seeds and fertilisers. Funds are channelled through NGOs and United Nations agencies, not through the Government of Zimbabwe.

Vaccinations (Developing World)

Tony McWalter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's work with others to promote vaccination in the developing world.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID works with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) and the Vaccine Fund, and has contributed 35 million. DFID provides support to UNICEF and WHO contributing 64 million and 50.2 million respectively in 200304. We promote immunisation to the poorest through direct support to country health programmes.
	UK is working alongside the French and Swedish Governments to raise $4 billion through an International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) and is seeking support of other OECD Governments. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State pledged $1.8 billion over 15 years to the IFFIm. DFID works with research and development organisations (such as the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI)) to promote new vaccines.

Afghanistan

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has funded (a) alternative employment for workers in the poppy industry and (b) the purchase of poppy crops in Afghanistan since 1997.

Hilary Benn: As a counterbalance to the elimination of the illicit opium economy in Afghanistan, opportunities to pursue alternative licit livelihoods for existing and potential poppy growers must be developed. DFID works through the National Priority Programmes of the Afghan Government and with a range of NGOs to provide both agricultural and non-agricultural inputs and technical support to give farmers alternative livelihood opportunities in poor rural areas.
	DFID funds targeted alternative livelihood programmes in Badakhshan and Eastern Hazarajat. In Badakhshan, DFID is also funding a Cash for Work programme in order to generate increased minimum wage employment through labour-intensive public works. This is designed to provide up to 500,000 person days of employment for those previously generating income from growing poppy crops. We are in discussion with the Government of Afghanistan and others to identify opportunities to provide similar support in other key poppy growing provinces.
	DFID has not, as part of its programme, purchased any poppy crops in Afghanistan.

Avian Influenza

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development to which countries he is giving resources devoted to the prevention of avian influenza.

Hilary Benn: As part of a DFID/World Bank funded programme, the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) is providing technical support to the Chinese authorities on a range of health risks including avian flu.
	No specific support to deal with avian flu is being provided to countries in South East Asia. DFID is in close contact with the World Health Organisation in affected countries and country offices are considering specific support for expanded public education and surveillance activities on a country-by-country basis. To date, only Cambodia has submitted a request for DFID support and this is under consideration.
	DFID officials are to meet staff of the HPA next week to discuss potential gaps in the international response.

Guyana

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a further statement on UK assistance to Guyana following the floods on 26 December 2004, with specific regard to (a) food relief, (b) replacing accommodation and (c) restarting public services.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: holding answer 8 March 2005
	As reported in my statement of 10 February 2005, DFID has provided 287,000 to the immediate flood response in Guyana. Since that statement we have provided an additional 30,000 in materials. Through the UK's contribution to the European Commission (EC), we have provided 185,000 out of the 1.7 million provided by the EC as immediate relief.
	The UK has tried to ensure that our support goes to areas not otherwise covered by other members of the international community. The World Food Programme and the Red Cross met immediate food needs, and were funded by others from the international community.
	The UN, through the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), is currently undertaking an assessment of the impact of the floods on Guyana's economy and on people's livelihoods. These assessments have been tried and tested in many regional disasters. The assessment will indicate longer term food security needs, as well as reconstruction needs. To date there has not been an identified need to replace accommodation. The priority has been to clean flood affected accommodation, as well as schools and health centres, to make all such places useable again. The Government's cleaning programme is being supported by the UN.
	Some schools are still unable to operate as normal. Those affected were used as shelters for displaced people, and they are currently waiting to be reached by the Government cleaning programme. Of the public utilities only the provision of piped water was affected. Pumping stations and distribution networks were severely affected in many areas. This service is now getting back to normal. The management improvements at Guyana Water Incorporated provided through the water reform programme ensured an effective response to the flood situation. This programme was funded by DFID and others to improve the supply of potable water. There are sufficient resources in place, and sufficient capacity, to undertake the necessary ongoing repairs. Oxfam have been working very closely with the water utility to ensure the supply of potable water during and after the crisis.
	The Guyanese Drainage and Irrigation Board, supported by UN sourced experts, have identified a set of emergency works to be undertaken on the water management system damaged by the floods. This work is urgent as there are fears that this system was compromised by the floods, and might fail in the main May/June rains. DFID are now in the process of finalising assistance to support implementation of these emergency restoration works. In conjunction with United Nations Development Programme we are funding the cost of a Dutch expert to assist the Government of Guyana in overseeing the emergency rehabilitation of the water management system.

Jammu Kashmir

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Jammu Kashmir Government concerning what financial or material assistance is needed following the recent severe weather there;
	(2)  what assistance his Department has offered to the Jammu Kashmir Government following the recent severe weather there.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: We have not received, nor do we expect to receive, a request from the Government of India (GoI) for assistance in responding to the recent severe weather in Jammu and Kashmir. All external assistance to India is co-ordinated by the GoI. The GoI has considerable experience and capacity in responding to natural disasters, and adheres to a clear policy not to request external humanitarian assistance in such circumstances.

Malawi

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid Malawi will be given by his Department in 2005; and how much was given in 2004.

Hilary Benn: In the financial year 200506, DFID plans to provide 60 million of aid to Malawi through its bilateral country programme. The equivalent figure for the financial year 200405 is expected to be 55 million. In addition, Malawi will benefit from aid from multilateral and international organisations including the European Union, the World Bank and the United Nations, which are in part financed by DFID, but for which figures are not yet available.

Middle East

David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the proposed Middle East donors conference in June; and whether he plans to establish an international fund under the aegis of the UN to finance the cost of resettlement and compensation for Palestinian refugees, as proposed by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Resolution 1156 (1998).

Hilary Benn: At the March 1 London Meeting on Supporting the Palestinian Authority (PA), the international community committed to holding a Consultative Group of international donors by the end of June. The UK looks forward to participating fully and pledging further support to the PA. As the prospects increase for a return to the Roadmap and a move towards final status negotiations, the international community will need to look afresh at plans to meet the costs of resettlement and compensation for refugees. A review of Resolution 1156 may be a good starting point.

Overseas Aid

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he takes to ensure that all aid from the UK, including that distributed via multilateral donors, is fully aligned with the priorities of recipient countries.

Hilary Benn: International commitments made at Monterrey (2002), Rome (2003) and the recent High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Paris require both bilateral and multilateral donors to use their assistance in support of countries' own priorities. DFID's country programmes are governed by Country Assistance Plans, which are agreed with partners and demonstrate how DFID will support their own poverty reduction plans. On 2 March, I published a new policy paper Partnerships for Poverty Reduction: Rethinking Conditionality, which emphasises our commitment to partner country leadership in setting their developing policies, and states that we will not seek to influence policy choices by use of aid conditions. DFID works closely with multilateral agencies, at both headquarters and country level, to ensure their procedures and practice promote alignment.

TREASURY

Census

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the number of individuals in Southend who did not complete 2001 Census returns;
	(2)  how many prosecutions there have been of individuals in Southend for non-completion of the 2001 Census.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Amess, dated 9 March 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions on non-completion of the 2001 Census in Southend. (220586  220587)
	In answer to your first question; in Southend, 10,230 persons were added to the Census in order to account for the individuals who did not complete 2001 Census returns.
	With regard to your second question, no individuals in Southend have been prosecuted for non-completion of the 2001 Census. The total number of prosecutions for non-completion of the 2001 Census in England and Wales was 39.

Census

John Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the statutory penalties are for refusing to complete a decennial population census form for England and Wales; and how many successful prosecutions there were for that offence in connection with the censuses for (a) 1981, (b) 1991 and (c) 2001;
	(2)  what the statutory penalties are for unlawfully disclosing personal information from closed decennial population censuses for England and Wales; and how many successful prosecutions there have been for that offence since 1990.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. John Taylor, dated 9 March 2005
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking (i) what the statutory penalties are for refusing to complete a decennial population census form for England and Wales; and how many successful prosecutions there were for that offence in connection with the censuses for (a) 1981, (b) 1991 and (c) 2001 and (ii) what the statutory penalties are for unlawfully disclosing personal information from closed decennial population censuses for England and Wales, and how many successful prosecutions there have been for that offence since 1990. (220592, 220593)
	The penalty for failing to complete a census form is prescribed by Section 8(1) of the Census Act 1920 which states that on summary conviction a person shall be liable for a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
	The maximum fine of level 3 on the standard scale under the Criminal Justice Act 1982 was 1,000 at the time of the 2001 Census.
	The numbers of successful prosecutions for failing to complete a census form in England and Wales were 692 in 1981, 342 in 1991 and 38 in 2001.
	The statutory penalty for unlawfully disclosing personal census information is prescribed by Section 8 (5) of the Census Act 1920 as amended by the Census (Confidentiality) Act 1991 which states that (a) on summary conviction a person shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both; (b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both.
	Since 1990 there has been one prosecution for unlawful disclosure of personal census information.

Centenarians

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged 100 years and over live in the UK.

Stephen Timms: Based on the latest estimates prepared for the interim 2003-based national population projections, there were approximately 8,400 people aged 100 years and over living in the United Kingdom in the middle of 2003.

Emigration

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people who emigrated from the UK in each year since 1990; what percentage of those people he estimates were between the ages of 18 and 30; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Dr. Ashok Kumar, dated 9 March 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding the number of people emigrating from the United Kingdom since 1990, and the percentage of these who were aged between 18 and 30. (220670)
	Estimates of emigration from the UK are shown in the attached table. The figures are based on the most comprehensive estimate of migration produced by the Office for National Statistics, Total International Migration (TIM).
	TIM estimates are based on data from a number of sources. Some of the source data are grouped into the following broad age groups: under 15; 1524; 2544; 4559/64; and 60/65 and over. As a result, we are only able to provide TIM estimates of emigration for the aforementioned age groups. Furthermore, TIM estimates produced using the current methodology are only available from 1991 onwards.
	
		Total International Migration (TIM)(1)estimates of emigration for all ages and for specific age groupsTime series 1991 to 2002United Kingdom
		
			 Thousand 
			  All ages 1524 2544 1544 
			  Outflow Percentage(2) Outflow Percentage(2) Outflow Percentage(2) Outflow Percentage(2) 
		
		
			 1991 285.0 100.0 76.1 26.7 131.5 46.1 207.5 72.8 
			 1992 281.1 100.0 75.7 26.9 133.5 47.5 209.2 74.4 
			 1993 266.3 100.0 67.5 25.3 127.3 47.8 194.8 73.1 
			 1994 237.6 100.0 62.4 26.3 116.6 49.1 179.1 75.4 
			 1995 236.5 100.0 69.1 29.2 106.5 45.0 175.6 74.2 
			 1996 263.7 100.0 62.8 23.8 139.5 52.9 202.4 76.7 
			 1997 279.2 100.0 85.7 30.7 138.3 49.5 224.0 80.2 
			 1998 251.5 100.0 69.8 27.8 130.3 51.8 200.1 79.6 
			 1999 290.8 100.0 87.1 30.0 143.1 49.2 230.2 79.1 
			 2000 320.7 100.0 83.6 26.1 174.9 54.5 258.5 80.6 
			 2001 307.7 100.0 83.8 27.2 154.6 50.2 238.3 77.4 
			 2002 359.4 100.0 91.9 25.6 186.4 51.9 278.3 77.4 
		
	
	(1) Total International Migration (TIM) estimates for 19912002 are based mainly on data from the International Passenger Survey (IPS). These include adjustments for (1) those whose intended length of stay changes so that their migrant status changes; (2) asylum seekers and their dependants not identified by the IPS; and (3) flows between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
	(2) The percentage column expresses the TIM emigration estimate for the specified age range as a proportion of the TIM emigration estimate for all ages.
	Source:
	ONS, Home Office, Irish Central Statistics Office

Inland Revenue

Robert Key: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) telephone calls, (b) e-mails, (c) letters and (d) personal visits were recorded on an average working day at the Inland Revenue office in Alexandra House, Salisbury in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by subject; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: 1,100 telephone calls were received by Inland Revenue in Alexander House, Salisbury, in January 2005 (approx 55 calls per working day).
	There is no facility for e-mails to be received from customers at this location.
	3,440 letters from customers were received in Dorset Area, in which Salisbury office is included, in January 2005 (approx 172 per working day). It is not possible to provide a breakdown by subject.
	There were 10,305 personal callers (approx 48 per working day) at the Inquiry Centre for the 12 months to 31 December 2004 as follows:
	
		Salisbury IREC callers 12 months to 31 December 2004
		
			 Category Number 
		
		
			 Calculation help/request 8 
			 Change of circumstances 23 
			 CIS inquiry 154 
			 CIS hand in 8 
			 CIS identity check 218 
			 Complaint 6 
			 Corporation tax 4 
			 Employers pack help 2 
			 End of year inquiries 411 
			 Form/letter help 2,021 
			 General advice 4,995 
			 Hand in return 730 
			 New scheme inquiry 15 
			 NIC inquiries 132 
			 Other 156 
			 Payments in 232 
			 Payments out 246 
			 Progress chasing 197 
			 Referral to OGD 1 
			 Referral to specialist 14 
			 Repayment 231 
			 Return application completion help 146 
			 Return/application completion check 82 
			 Schedule D 1 
			 TC advice prior to initial claim 32 
			 TC change of circumstance 28 
			 TC Other 69 
			 TC payment request 66 
			 TC question about award 48 
			 TC renewals 29 
			 Grand total 10,305

Licensing Act

Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2005, Official Report, column 724W, on the Licensing Act, if he will list the grounds on which a justice's licence may be revoked by licensing justices; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: I have been asked to reply.
	Under the Licensing Act 1964 any person or the police may ask the licensing justices to revoke a licence at any time. The licensing justices may revoke a justices' licence at any licensing sessions (other than at sessions at which an application for renewal of the licence falls). The power is exercisable on any ground on which the justices might refuse to renew a justices' licence, namely that the licensee is disqualified under the Act or is not a fit and proper person to hold a licence.

Ministerial Stationery

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on official Ministerial (a) business cards, (b) headed paper and (c) compliment slips in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available. Expenditure on these items is not accounted for separately.

Personal Debt

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of individuals in each region of the UK that were more than 10,000 in debt in each month since January 1990; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Dr. Ashok Kumar, dated 9 March 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on the number of individuals in each region of the UK that were more than 10,000 in debt. (220677)
	The information requested is not available.
	The only information available is national data on debt per person. Annual data from 1997 was recently given in a reply to a Parliamentary Question from Dr Vincent Cable MP (214789, Hansard of 7 February 2005, Column 1241W).

Public Spending

Liam Byrne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) the gross domestic product (GDP), (b) his estimate of the output gap, (c) total public spending, (d) public spending per capita and (e) public spending as a proportion of regional GDP were for each English region, in each of the last five years.

Paul Boateng: The information is as follows:
	(a) Gross value added (GVA), a measure closely related to GDP (which is not available on a regional basis), for each English region for the calendar years 1999 to 2003 is published on the ONS website (www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/regionalGVA.pdf).
	(b) The output gap is currently only available on a national basis so regional figures do not exist.
	(c) Total public spending by region that can be identified as benefiting a particular region for 199899 to 200203 is published in table 8.1 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) 2004 (Cm6201). Public spending can be split into that which can be identified as benefiting a particular region and that which is for the benefit of the UK as a whole, for example defence spending. Therefore, the figures in PESA 2004 do not represent total England public spending, which is not available by region.
	(d) Total identifiable public spending by region, for the same years, on a per capita basis is shown in table 8.2 of PESA 2004 (Cm6201).
	(e) Public spending as a proportion of GVA (GDP) is not available as GVA is produced on a calendar year basis whereas identifiable public spending is produced according to financial years.

Staff Transfers

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax policy staff were transferred from Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise to the Treasury in each of the last three years; and what their (a) general areas of work, (b) grades and (c) work programmes were in each case.

Dawn Primarolo: Fifteen staff in 200203, and 13 in 200304, came to HM Treasury on loan or secondment from the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise, entering a variety of Treasury teams, primarily those related to tax or Ministerial support.
	During 200405, following the O'Donnell review of the Revenue Departments, HM Treasury has taken lead responsibility and accountability for tax policy development, with support from Revenue and Customs who lead on policy maintenance. So far in 200405, 81 staff have come in on loan from Revenue and Customs to the Treasury's Budget and Public Finances Directorate as a result of this change, to ensure the right balance of skills and expertise within the new tax teams. Details of numbers and grades are set out in the table as follows:
	
		HM Treasury inward loans and secondments
		
			  200203 200304 (3)200405 
		
		
			 Senior civil service 
			 Revenue  1 7 
			 Customs   1 
			 Grades 6 and 7 (Treasury range E) 
			 Revenue 5 3 23 
			 Customs 1 2 7 
			 SEO/HEO (Treasury range D) 
			 Revenue 3 1 20 
			 Customs 4 6 23 
			 EO (Treasury range C) 
			 Revenue 1   
			 Customs
			 AO (Treasury range B) 
			 Revenue 1   
			 Customs
			 Total 15 13 81 
		
	
	(3) new tax teams

Student Loans

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the annual cost of making student loan repayments for graduates tax-deductible.

Stephen Timms: No such estimate has been made.

Tax Credits (Overpayment)

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to which Department of the Inland Revenue hon. Members should write in respect of representations relating to the desirability of remitting overpayments of tax credit caused by incorrect award notices.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 8 March 2005
	For constituents in Great Britain, hon. Members should write to the Overpayments Team, Tax Credit Office, Preston, PR1 OSB. For constituents in Northern Ireland, hon. Members should write to the Overpayments Team, Tax Credit Office, Dorchester House, 5258 Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7WF.
	The Inland Revenue's approach to tax credits overpayments is explained in their Code of Practice 26, What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?. The Department also provides form TC846, Request to reconsider recovery of tax credits, which claimants can use to explain why they think they should not be expected to pay back their overpayment. Both the Code of Practice and the form are available on the Department's website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Bovine TB

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the findings from the collection of evidence from road traffic accidents affecting badgers in relation to the study of bovine TB.

Ben Bradshaw: The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG) advises that the findings of the Road Traffic Accident (RTA) study should not be disclosed at present to avoid either encouraging illegal action against badgers or deterring participation in the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT). However, information on the location of badgers where TB is diagnosed is released to divisional veterinary managers to inform the measures they take with respect to disease control in cattle in the vicinity.
	The ISG has been analysing the data from the RTA study in conjunction with data from badgers culled in the RBCT and will soon be advising Defra on the results and their interpretation.

Carbon Allowances

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the UK National Allocation Plan for allocating carbon allowances to be approved by the European Commission.

Elliot Morley: We recognise that UK operators wish to begin full participation in the scheme as soon as possible. The Government are continuing their dialogue with the Commission with a view to finding a solution which addresses the concerns of both sides and which will enable allocation as soon as possible.

Cormorants

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the breeding population of cormorants (a) in England and (b) on inland waters in England.

Ben Bradshaw: The latest estimate of breeding cormorants in the UK and Ireland is provided by the Seabird 2000 survey. These data indicate that there are 3,145 breeding pairs of cormorants in England (including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man). This includes the majority of the estimated 1,646 breeding pairs of cormorants at inland colonies in the UK.
	UK coastal colonies are dispersed more widely, with many birds breeding in Wales and Scotland. However, many of the coastal breeding birds from all parts of the UK, and their progeny, move onto inland fisheries in England and Wales in the winter and these, together with significant immigration of wintering birds from the continent, give rise to elevated numbers inland during winter. The winter cormorant population in the UK has increased four fold in the last 25 years.

Emissions Trading Scheme

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library the correspondence she has had with the EU Commission regarding the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme.

Elliot Morley: The Government do not intend to publish correspondence we have had with the European Commission on the UK National Allocation Plan, as discussions with the Commission on the total number of allowances to be allocated are continuing, with a view to finding a solution which addresses the concerns of both sides as soon as possible.

EU Subsidies

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the level of common agricultural policy production subsidies in the EU, including those retained under the national envelope system; and what assessment she has made of the impact that they have on the agricultural markets of developing nations.

Alun Michael: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development produce an estimate of the level of subsidy provided to agricultural producers in OECD countries, the Producer Support Estimate (PSE). The latest estimate, in Agricultural Policies in OECD Countries: At a Glance, 2004, puts the EU's PSE at 108 billion or approximately 37 per cent. of output. This estimate covers all direct payments to producers under the common agricultural policy (and national schemes) including those under agri-environment measures. It also covers gross transfers to producers as a result of market price support.
	Defra has not made an assessment of the impact of the CAP on developing countries' agricultural markets. However there are a number of published studies which consider the effects of developed countries' agricultural policy on developing countries. One such estimate is presented in the World Bank report Global Economic Prospects and the Developing Countries, 2002. This puts the annual benefits to developing countries (in 2015) from liberalisation of agriculture and food policies in high income countries at $99 billion (when dynamic productivity gains are included). It is important to note that developing countries are not all affected in the same way: for example the effect depends on whether the country is a net exporter or net importer of highly protected agricultural products. In addition, the magnitude of an estimate will depend, in part, on the modelling methodology used to generate it.

GM Foods

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received since May 2003 in response to the challenge by the US in the World Trade Organisation to the EU's precautionary approach to GM foods and farming; what steps the Government is taking in response to the challenge; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: In May 2003, the USA, Argentina and Canada filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation against the procedures regulating the import and marketing of GMOs in the European Union. The focus of the complaints is that the EU has allegedly not been operating its own approvals system for GM products since 1998. It is alleged that this is more trade restrictive than is required to achieve the desired level of public health protection, that it is not based on proper scientific criteria, and that it unfairly discriminates between GMO and non-GMO products. The case is made against the European Commission, not individual member states, but it specifically cites Austria, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Italy and Greece.
	The Department has received correspondence from stakeholders and the public in relation to this WTO case, in the main supporting the EU regulatory position. The UK Government has also raised this issue in meetings with the US administration.
	The UK Government has expressed its disappointment that this action has been taken by the USA and we are working with our EU partners to defend the case and find a solution. As with any WTO dispute we will be bound by the ruling, which will be reached after due consideration of the evidence. The UK agrees with the European Commission that existing EU legislation on GMOs is compatible with trade rules and that significant progress has recently been made in dealing with applications under the legislation for placing GM products on the market.

GM Maize

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the recent approval given by the European Commission for the marketing of two GM maize varieties.

Elliot Morley: There has been no recent approval given by the EU for the marketing of GM maize. The last approval under the Deliberate Release Directive was issued in October last year for Monsanto's GM maize NK603.

Greenhouse Gases

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action is being taken to limit the increase of greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Elliot Morley: The Government set out its policy on reducing emissions of the six greenhouse gases covered under the Kyoto Protocol in its publication Climate Change: The UK Programme (CM 4913) in 2000. This publication contains a set of flexible measures covering a range of different sectorsincluding transport, agriculture, business and households.
	Details of the reductions in greenhouse gas levels achieved so far, the main measures already in place and future options under consideration to achieve further reductions in greenhouse gas levels are contained in the 2004 Review of the UK Climate Change Programme Consultation Paper (PB 10372). A revised Climate Change Programme will be published later this year.

Horses

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will estimate the cost of setting up a border inspection post for the entry of horses to the UK by sea; [218711 ]
	(2)  whether there is a border inspection post for the entry of horses by sea into the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: There are no border inspection posts at seaports approved to inspect horses imported from countries outside the European Union.
	Port operators, carriers or agents are free to provide such facilities based on commercial need: facilities are not provided by Government. Defra does not have access to figures relating to the costs of setting up a border inspection post for imports of live horses.

National Bee Unit

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2005, Official Report, column 933W, on agriculture, on what basis the decision was made that 20 per cent. of the budget of the National Bee Unit should be reduced from 2008; and what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the proposed reduction on the UK beekeeping industry.

Alun Michael: I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 19 January 2005, Official Report, column 944W, which cited the Department's Activity Baseline Review as the basis for the decision to reduce expenditure with the National Bee Unit from 2008. The review considered all of the Department's activities and the resources allocated to them.
	As we have always made clear, the changes we propose depend on satisfactory progress with our evaluation of the shook swarm technique for the control of European foul brood. We are in continuing discussions with the beekeeping associations about encouraging the wider use of this technique and managing the risks involved.

Official Residences

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the official residences for which her Department is responsible; who occupies each one; what the annual cost is of running each property; what contribution the occupants of each make towards running costs; what the total capital and refurbishment expenditure has been on those properties in each of the past five years; how much money was spent in each property on (a) flowers and plants, (b) wine and entertaining, (c) food, (d) telephone bills and (e) electricity and gas in 200304; how many (i) domestic and (ii) maintenance staff are employed at each property, broken down by post; and what the total cost of staff employment was in 200304.

Alun Michael: The Department is responsible for one official residence, an apartment at Admiralty House, London, which is occupied by the Secretary of State.
	Since Admiralty House is Government owned, running costs are paid by the Department to the Cabinet Office. Current annual running costs of 195,000 are paid in respect of rent and a service charge, which covers costs for utilities (including electricity and gas) security, facilities management and general maintenance. The Secretary of State does not contribute directly towards these costs but does pay a related personal 'tax' charge. The telephone charges are included within the Department's general telephone expenditure.
	Since the Department was created in June 2001, we have not been advised of any capital or refurbishment expenditure. Any such expenditure is the responsibility of the Cabinet Office who would re-charge the Department through the service charge.
	The Department incurs no expenditure on flowers and plants, wine and entertaining or food.
	There are no domestic or maintenance staff employed by the Department.

Rigby House Farm Waste Tip

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers are available to her Department to close Rigby House Farm waste tip on the grounds of (a) emission of smells and (b) rodent problems; and what powers (i) her Department and (ii) the Environment Agency has to require the operators to compensate people living in the area for nuisance caused by the tip.

Elliot Morley: Rigby House Farm landfill site currently operates under a waste management licence issued by the Environment Agency under the provisions of part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (the 1990 Act).
	Section 38 of the 1990 Act provides the Environment Agency with the power to suspend a licence or revoke a licence in part, or in its entirety. This power is exercisable where it appears to the agency that the continuation of the activities authorised by the licence would cause pollution of the environment, or harm to human health, or would be seriously detrimental to the amenities of the locality. There are no powers under the 1990 Act to compensate people living in the area for any nuisance caused.

Sewerage

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) water companies and (b) Water UK on the potential for greater use being made of reed beds to try to overcome sewerage problems; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Defra supports the appropriate use of sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) such as reed beds, but recognises that, at present, barriers to the implementation, adoption and maintenance of SUDS exist. In order to address these problems, Defra is a member of the The National SUDS Working Group (NSWG), of which representatives of water companies and Water UK are also members. Regular meetings of this group are held facilitating discussion between all parties interested in the implementation of SUDS. In July 2004 the NSWG published an Interim Code of Practice (ICOP) for SUDS. The aim of the ICOP is to provide a strategic approach to the allocation of responsibilities for the maintenance of sustainable drainage systems.
	The new strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management that Defra has just finished consulting on, looks at ways of better coordinating the various responsibilities for urban drainage, including SUDS. A technical annex to this consultation explores in more depth, the specific options and proposals that have been made to government by stakeholders (such as water companies and Water UK) to encourage and facilitate implementation of more sustainable surface water drainage systems in the future.
	Further information can be found at:
	http://www.ciria.org/suds/icop.htm
	www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/strategy.htm
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/strategy/suds.htm

Single Farm Payments

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has in respect of single farm payments for those who had historic commoners' rights on the basis of the number of animals grazed over recent years, with particular reference to those who are classed as commoners, but who have chosen not to graze animals for a considerable period of time.

Alun Michael: The Single Payment Scheme (SPS) is open to applications from farmers who meet the scheme conditions. A farmer is someone who carries out an 'agricultural activity' as defined in the EC legislation. A commoner who is a farmer, may seek to establish SPS entitlements on a notional share of the eligible area of the common where he or she has rights to graze. On most commons in England, the notional share will be calculated in proportion to the commoner's right to graze the land, as registered under the Commons Registration Act 1965. It will be up to an individual to decide whether or not he or she will apply for the scheme. All applications will be included in the normal inspection arrangements, including checks to determine whether the applicant is a farmer.
	Full details concerning the operation of the scheme on common land were published in our February update available on our website.

Warm Front

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many heating installations have been carried out in each constituency in England under the Warm Front Scheme in each of the last three years.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 28 February 2005
	Between April 2002 and January 2005 approximately 174,000 heating installations have been carried out in England under the Warm Front Scheme.
	A table showing a breakdown of the number of heating installations in each financial year, by constituency, will be made available in the Library of the House.

Waste Incineration Directive

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what installation and plant will be (a) exempted and (b) derogated from the requirements of the waste incineration directive regulations; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Articles 3(4) and 3(5) of the waste incineration directive provide definition respectively of the incineration plant and co-incineration plant covered by that directive. However, Article 2(2) of that directive excludes from the directive's scope (i) plants treating only certain wastes listed there, and (ii) experimental plants.
	Article 6(4) of the directive enables competent authorities to set, for plant subject to the directive's requirements, operating conditions different to those set out in Articles 6(1), 6(2) and 6(3) provided the directive's requirements are met. These provisions are relatively complex, but are explained in draft Guidance on Directive 2000/76/EC on the Incineration of Waste prepared by the Department and the Welsh Assembly Government and available on the Defra website. This publication also incorporates the text of the directive itself.

Waste Incineration Directive

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what category of installations and plant that burn waste will not be covered by the waste incineration directive when it comes into force.

Elliot Morley: Article 2(2) of the waste incineration directive excludes from that directive's scope:
	(a) plants treating only the following wastes:
	(i) vegetable waste from agriculture and forestry;
	(ii) vegetable waste from the food processing industry, if the heat generated is recovered;
	(iii) fibrous vegetable waste from virgin pulp production and from production of paper from pulp, if it is co-incinerated at the place of production and the heat generated is recovered;
	(iv) wood waste with the exception of wood waste which may contain halogenated organic compounds or heavy metals as a result of treatment with wood-preservatives or coating, and which includes in particular such wood waste originating from construction and demolition waste;
	(v) cork waste;
	(vi) radioactive waste;
	(vii) animal carcasses as regulated by Council Directive 90/667/EEC without prejudice to its future amendments;
	(viii) waste resulting from the exploration for, and the exploitation of, oil and gas resources from off-shore installations and incinerated on board the installation;
	(b) experimental plants used for research, development and testing in order to improve the incineration process and which treat less than 50 tonnes of waste per year.

Waste Incineration Directive

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether incineration by (a) asphalting companies, (b) cement manufacturers, (c) chemical firms, (d) merchant incinerators, (e) power generators and (f) steel industries will be subject to regulation under the waste incineration directive.

Elliot Morley: If these activities incorporate (i) plant dedicated to the thermal treatment of wastes, with or without recovery of the combustion heat generated, or (ii) plant which uses wastes as a regular or additional fuel or in which waste is thermally treated for the purpose of disposal, that plant will be subject to the requirements of the waste incineration directive unless any of the exclusions in Article 2(2) of that directive applies. The text of the directive is incorporated in draft Guidance on Directive 2000/76/EC on the Incineration of Waste prepared by my Department and the Welsh Assembly Government and available on the Defra website.

Waste Recycling

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list for each of the Merseyside local authorities the proportion of household waste re-cycled in the last three years for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: The proportion (percentage) 1 of household waste sent for recycling or composting for each of the Merseyside local authorities in the last three years is presented in the following table:
	
		
			 LA name LA type 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Warrington borough council Unitary 12 13 13 
			 Halton borough council Unitary 14 17 18 
			 Wirral metropolitan borough council Collection 6 7 7 
			 St. Helens metropolitan borough council Collection 5 6 11 
			 Sefton metropolitan borough council Collection 8 10 12 
			 Liverpool city council/ metropolitan borough council Collection 2 2 4 
			 Knowsley metropolitan borough council Collection 5 6 8 
			 Merseyside waste disposal authority Disposal 7 8 10 
		
	
	(4) All figures are rounded
	Source:
	Best Value Performance Indicator Data (BVPI 82a and b)

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

2012 Olympics

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what public funding has been allocated to facilitating the visit of the International Olympic Committee evaluation team to London in February.

Tessa Jowell: The bid company London 2012 oversaw all the arrangements for the Evaluation Commission's visit to London in February. The majority of the London 2012's funding comes from my Department and the London Development Agency, with a substantial element coming from private sponsorship and fundraising activities. I understand from London 2012 that 530,000 of costs are directly attributable to the visit. This figure is largely associated with the production cost of the three days of presentations, plus hiring hotel venue space and providing technical support. A further 150,000 was spent on preparations ahead of the visit.

2012 Olympics

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the total cost of (a) promoting and (b) hosting the 2012 Olympics in London.

Tessa Jowell: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) The bid company London 2012 is responsible for the majority of the promotional work for the Bid. The budget for Marketing and Communications within London 2012's budget is 7.45 million. The Government and the London Development Agency also jointly fund and manage a budget of 10 million to finance activities that support the Bid.
	(b) The cost of hosting the 2012 Olympics is 1.5 billion, which covers the operational and organisational costs of staging the Games for the period from 2005 until 2014. This will be met almost entirely from broadcast rights, sponsorship and ticket sales.
	The costs were reported to Parliament in the usual way, and were reported in the Culture, Media and Sport report A London Olympic Bid for 2012, which was published on 23 January 2003.

British Art Market

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's estimate is of the cost to the British art market of the European Union's Directive 2001/84/EC, Artist's Resale Right Directive, if (a) royalty collection is made compulsory and (b) the royalty rate is set at five per cent.

Patricia Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.
	(a) Based on figures provided by the art market it is estimated that the cost of transactions would be reduced from approximately 38 per artwork if the right is managed by individual artists to approximately 28 per artwork if the right is administered by a single collecting agency. The Patent Office has asked in its present consultation for views on whether collective management of resale royalties should be made compulsory.
	(b) The directive provides an option for increasing the royalty rate paid on the first 50,000 of the sales price from 4 per cent. to 5 per cent. The UK is not currently proposing to use this option and therefore no estimate of costs based on this rate has been made.

British Art Market

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's estimate is of the proportion of art sales that may be diverted from the United Kingdom following implementation of European Union Directive 2001/84/EC, Artist's Resale Right Directive.

Patricia Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.
	A number of factors influence the choice of location of a sale, including the location at which the highest price will be achieved and seller's fees. It seems likely that for many sales the cost of relocating would exceed any saving on royalty and would prevent diversion. In addition, based on figures provided by the art market for the 200102 season, the total value of the market was 4,227 million and of this 442 million (approximately 10 per cent.) worth of these sales would attract a royalty payment if the right was applied to works by living and deceased artists. If the right was applied only to works by living artists 64.8 million (less than 2 per cent.) worth of the total value of sales would attract a royalty payment. The Patent Office has asked interested parties during the present consultation for any information which would help complete the partial impact assessment, and will be commissioning further economic analysis during the consultation process.

Lottery Funding

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Heritage Lottery funding was awarded in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough in 200405; and how many projects were awarded funding.

Richard Caborn: The total amount of Heritage Lottery funding that was awarded in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough in 200405 was 35,765,038 and the number of projects was 117.
	
		Heritage Lottery FundLondon April 2004 to February 2005
		
			 Local authority Number of projects Amount awarded () 
		
		
			 Barnet 2 87,200 
			 Bexley 1 153,000 
			 Camden 10 497,499 
			 City of London 3 1,100,000 
			 Croydon 3 100,900 
			 Ealing 4 198,220 
			 Enfield 4 150,800 
			 Greenwich 4 13,163,600 
			 Hackney 4 295,700 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 5 2,664,805 
			 Haringey 2 59,200 
			 Harrow 2 19,600 
			 Havering 1 39,000 
			 Hillingdon 1 247,500 
			 Hounslow 3 380,000 
			 Islington 10 589,621 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3 5,086,023 
			 Lambeth 9 1,567,500 
			 Lewisham ? 87,200 
			 Newham 3 144,100 
			 Redbridge 2 50,000 
			 Richmond upon Thames 7 1,850,300 
			 Southwark 7 254,200 
			 Sutton 1 24,900 
			 Tower Hamlets 8 3,671,870 
			 Waltham Forest 1 25,000 
			 Wandsworth 2 685,000 
			 Westminster 13 2,572,300 
			 Total 117 35,765,038

Lottery Funding

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what priorities she has set for lottery funding.

Estelle Morris: Priorities for lottery funding are as set out in lottery legislation and policy directions. These include the need to ensure that all parts of the UK have access to lottery funding. Each distributor has been given appropriate directions which they are required to publish in their annual reports and accounts (copies are available in the Library of the House).

Lottery Funding

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will take steps to amend the criteria for lottery awards to ensure that poorer areas receive a higher level of award.

Estelle Morris: Individual lottery distributors set their own criteria on awards independently of Government, taking into account national lottery legislation and policy and financial directions to them. These policy directions require them to ensure that all parts of the UK have access to lottery funding. The arts, sports and heritage distributors have also been directed to take account of the scope for reducing economic and social deprivation at the same time as ensuring benefits for the arts, sport and heritage.

Public Service Agreements

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to increase and broaden the impact of culture and sport to (a) enrich individual lives, (b) strengthen communities and (c) improve the places where people live, now and for future generations.

Estelle Morris: The Public Service Agreement target that underpins the Department's communities Strategic Priority is 'to increase significantly the take-up of cultural and sporting opportunities by new users aged 20 and above from priority groups'.
	Information on the Department's performance against this Public Service Agreement target was published on 22 December 2004 in the DCMS autumn Performance Report (Cm 6435). Copies of the report are available in the House Library.

Regional Offices

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which (a) non-departmental public bodies and (b) Executive agencies within the remit of her Department have regional offices based on the Government offices for the regions' regional structure; and when the regional offices were established in each case.

Richard Caborn: DCMS non-departmental public bodies which have regional offices based on the Government offices for the regions and the years in which those offices were established are:
	Sport England (1996)
	Arts Council England (2002)
	English Heritage (1999)
	Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (200104)
	Big Lottery Fund (1995) 1
	Heritage Lottery Fund (200203)
	The Department does not have any Executive agencies with regional offices.
	1 The Big Lottery Fund has been the operating name of the administratively merged New Opportunities Fund and Community Fund since June 2004. The Community Fund was the operating name of the National Lottery Charities Board which established regional offices in 1995.
	The UK Film Council does not have regional offices though it does invest in a network of partner agencies called Regional Screen Agencies which were established between 2002 and 2004. These are independent companies with their own boards and management structures entirely independent of the UK Film Council. They derive only part of their income from UK Film Council investment (in some cases less than half) and their remits are broader than that of the UK Film Council, including for example engagement with computer games and/or radio as well as film.

Regional Offices

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what regional (a) bodies, (b) institutions, (c) taskforces, (d) panels, (e) offices and (f) organisations the Government have established since May 1997 which are the responsibility of her Department.

Richard Caborn: The only regional bodies for which DCMS is responsible which the Government have established since May 1997 are the Regional Cultural Consortiums for the eight regions outside Greater London.
	The Department is not responsible for any other regional institutions, taskforces, panels, offices or organisations that the Government have established since May 1997.

UK Sport

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many candidates applied for the post of Chair of UK Sport; how many were interviewed; and what criteria were used to select the appointee.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 7 March 2005
	47 applications were received for the post of Chair of UK Sport and 10 candidates were interviewed. The selection panel assessed candidates against the criteria given in the role specification, which stated:
	UK Sport is looking for someone with a passion for success at high performance sport, who can establish a position of leadership in the search for that success at national level;
	and that the successful candidate would:
	Have experience of business, financial and resource management.
	Be able to win the respect of, negotiate with, and influence senior members of the Government and other key external stakeholders.
	Have a proven track record of building and growing partnerships together with partnership working at the highest level.
	Be able to promote the organisation and possess highly developed communication and representational skills and be skilled at chairing meetings.
	Have strong interpersonal relations skills and be able to demonstrate a track record of leading and motivating people and building effective teams.
	Be able to demonstrate strategic thinking, creativity and political awareness.

UK Sport

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who interviewed the candidates for Chair of UK Sport; and what role she played in the appointment.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 7 March 2005
	Candidates were interviewed by Nicola Roche, Director of Sport at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport; Professor Eric Saunders, Chair of the Sports Council for Northern Ireland; Nigel Walker, a former international athlete and Head of Sport at BBC Wales; and David Chesterton CB, an independent assessor as required by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
	I was involved at three key stages. I approved the role specification and project plan; I approved the shortlist for interview; and I made a decision on whom to recommend to the Prime Minister for appointment from those candidates considered by the selection panel to be 'above the line'.

UK Sport

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the Chair of UK Sport is allowed to hold other public appointments; and what rules govern her conduct.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 7 March 2005
	There is no barrier to prevent individuals from holding more than one public appointment. An individual is also permitted to act as an adviser to Government Departments while holding a public appointment, provided there is no conflict of interest. The Chair's conduct in office is governed by the Cabinet Office publication Guidance on Codes of Practice for Board Members of Public Bodies and by UK Sport's own publication Chair: Competency Framework.

DEFENCE

Cancer

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what policies his Department has in place for supporting employees with cancer.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence has a comprehensive range of policies to support civilian employees with serious long-term illnesses, including cancer, these include:
	Confidential advice from a member of the Occupational Welfare Service;
	Time off for medical appointments and treatment;
	Reasonable adjustments to hours of work and the nature of their duties;
	Early involvement and support from our Occupational Health experts;
	Sick absence at six months at full pay, six months at half pay, and sick pay at pension rate;
	Gradual rehabilitation including reduced hours and duties;
	A comprehensive suite of Work/Life policies;
	Additional sick absence provision to cover absences not related to the original illness;
	Support of applications for medical retirement and access to early payments under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme;
	Line managers and colleagues are encouraged to keep in touch with those who are unwell.
	We will also look sympathetically on any request received on an individual basis.

Forces Recruitment (Scotland)

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have been recruited by Scottish Infantry regiments in each of the last 10 years from (a) Scotland, (b) the rest of the UK and (c) outside the UK.

Ivor Caplin: The information requested is shown in the table:
	
		Nationality (at birth)
		
			  Scottish British (excluding Scottish) Other Unspecified Total 
		
		
			 1994600 600 
			 1995420 420 
			 1996 240 55 (5) 185 480 
			 1997 405 95 (5)  505 
			 1998 430 70 10  510 
			 1999 550 85 15  650 
			 2000 465 85 80  630 
			 2001 375 95 40  510 
			 2002 335 75 40  455 
			 2003 290 85 30  400 
			 2004 375 135 40  550 
			 Total 3,460 780 265 1,200 5,705 
		
	
	(5) non-zero value, less than 5.
	Note:
	Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.
	Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear to be the sum of their parts.
	Figures do not include Full-Time Reserve Service (FTRS), Gurkhas or mobilised reservists. The information relates to the flows of UK Trained Regular Army personnel in the Scottish Regiments, regardless of whether they serve away from the main body of the Regiment.
	Nationality data are not available before 1996 so totals are given for 1994 and 1995 with part data available for 1996.
	Soldiers joining the infantry are not allocated to a particular regiment until completion of training at the Infantry Training Centre (Catterick). Therefore the table includes those soldiers who joined the Scottish Regiments on completion of training.
	Officers join their Arm/Service at the beginning of the third term of their military training at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and therefore the table shows those who joined the Scottish Regiments on completion of training.

Forces Recruitment (Scotland)

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many domiciled Scots have joined the (a) Army, (b) RAF and (c) Royal Navy in each of the last 10 years.

Ivor Caplin: Data on the number of domiciled Scots for the three Services are not available centrally.

Military Abuse (Iraq)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what pension rights the three men recently convicted of abuse of Iraqi civilians will have; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The Armed Forces Pension Scheme has a provision to reduce the award of pension benefits in exceptional cases of severe misconduct. However, in common with other contracted out occupational pension schemes within the public sector, the Scheme will be obliged to award pensions at least equivalent to the minimum amount they would be entitled to if they had contributed to, and subsequently received benefits under the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme.
	Personal data such as an individual's pension entitlement is a matter between employer and employee.

Parachutists

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) trained strength and (b) establishment is of each of the parachute regiments.

Ivor Caplin: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Strength and establishment of the Three Battalions of the Parachute Regiment as at 1 January 2005
		
			 Battalion Strength Establishments 
		
		
			 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment 570 580 
			 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment 540 580 
			 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment 530 580 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures quoted are as at 1 January 2005 and are for UK Regular Trained Army Officers and Soldiers only and therefore exclude TA, Mobilised Reserves, Full-Time Reserve Service, Gurkhas and Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment.
	2. The Establishment figures include only the infantry posts and exclude attached personnel of other Arms and Services such as chefs, clerks etc.
	3. The strength figures do not include officers and soldiers in the Parachute Regiment serving outside the battalion, or personnel from other cap badges attached to the battalion. The officer element excludes personnel with the rank of colonel and above.
	4. We cannot be precise about the strength in each battalion as the means by which these data are collected does not allow for separate attribution. The split is derived from an estimate based on the strength by Unit Identity Number.
	5. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.

RAF

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the male to female ratio is in the Royal Air Force.

Ivor Caplin: At 1 January 2005, the ratio of male to female personnel was 7.3:1, as 12 per cent. of the total strength was female.
	Figures on strength by gender are published monthly in Tri-Service Publication (TSP) 1 Strength, Intake and Outflow of UK Regular Forces.

RAF

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new recruits to the Royal Air Force there have been per year on average over the past five years.

Ivor Caplin: The intake from civil life to the regular RAF for the past five years is as follows:
	
		
			  Recruits 
		
		
			 2000 3,730 
			 2001 3,790 
			 2002 4,040 
			 2003 4,440 
			 2004 2,770 
			 Annual average 3,750 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures show all intake to UK Regular Forces including re-enlistments and rejoined Reservists.
	2. Figures are for UK Regular Forces (including both trained and untrained personnel) and therefore exclude Full-Time Reserve Service personnel and mobilised Reservists.
	3. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

RAF

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Air Force's recruitment targets were met in the financial year 200304.

Ivor Caplin: No. The table shows that against the set targets, 93 per cent. of officers and non-commissioned aircrew and 89 per cent. of other ranks were recruited and entered training.
	
		
			  Target Numbers entering training 
		
		
			 Officers and non-commissioned aircrew 564 524 
			 Other ranks 4,025 3,581

RAF

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for recruitment to the Royal Air Force.

Ivor Caplin: Recruiting will continue to ensure the future Royal Air Force has the correct balance of skills and experience. However, the Service is reducing its recruitment targets by some 4,000 (to around 6,000 in total) over the next three financial years as part of the RAF manpower drawdown, announced by my right hon. Friend, the Minister for the Armed Forces on 9 December 2004, Official Report, column 103WS, in order to minimise redundancies.

RAF Menwith Hill

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the policing arrangements are at RAF Menwith Hill; how many people have been arrested there; and what discussions the local police have had with demonstrators on peaceful protest.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) exercise full constabulary powers, in an armed and unarmed capacity, at RAF Menwith Hill. MDP also contribute to the effective safety and security of the station, its residents, employees, and passing members of the public, by carrying out external patrols and joint Counter Terrorist Unit armed patrols with North Yorkshire police, to prevent unauthorised entry and interference with the station and its mission, reducing the potential for unlawful activity.
	In the last three years (March to February) the MDP have made the following arrests:
	200203 10 arrests involving 7 people
	200304 3 arrests involving 2 people
	200405 29 arrests involving 5 people
	Larger organised demonstrations involve communication between the police, the demonstration organisers and other interested parties in the community; with North Yorkshire police taking the lead outside the establishment. Close liaison with the organisers is maintained and meetings based on intelligence led strategies are held to ensure effective co-operation and enable peaceful protest.
	MDP liaise with the organisers of the smaller more regular demonstrations, when those demonstrations take place. A supervisory officer in charge of the police officers present at the demonstration, conducts a briefing to protesters, detailing the intentions of the police to allow a lawful and safe demonstration, while ensuring that others in the area are permitted to go about their lawful activities without interference. The briefing also advises that where unlawful activity takes place appropriate police action will be taken. Any concerns raised by the protesters are, wherever possible examined and resolved.

Service Accommodation

John Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many additional hirings from private sector landlords his Department expects to take on in the first year of his policy to house Armed Forces personnel of the same sex living together in partnerships in service accommodation.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 24 February 2005, Official Report, column 806W.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Attorney-General (Iraq)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether Lord Irvine was involved in (a) framing, (b) drafting and (c) drawing up the parliamentary answer given by the Attorney-General on 17 March 2003 on Iraq.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General, to the hon. Gentleman for Stone (Mr. Cash), on 1 March 2005, Official Report, column 1074W.

EU Constitution

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when he expects to announce what public monies will be made available to assist promotion of the forthcoming referendum vote on the EU constitution; and whether expenditure will be granted to both sides of the debate.

Christopher Leslie: Under the terms of the European Union Bill the Electoral Commission is given powers to encourage voting at the referendum. It will be for the Electoral Commission in due course to present an estimate for the cost of that activity to the Speaker's Committee.
	The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 provides for the Electoral Commission to designate one permitted participant to represent those campaigning for each outcome of the question. Where the Electoral Commission have made such designations, each designated organisation will be eligible for the following forms of assistance:
	a grant of up to 600,000 determined by the Electoral Commission;
	the sending of referendum addresses free of charge;
	the use of public rooms free of charge for holding public meetings;
	referendum campaign broadcasts.
	The same level of financial and non-cash assistance will be available to each designated organisation.

EU Constitution

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will undertake research to assess what the implications would be of the introduction of a minimum turn-out threshold for the referendum on the Constitutional Treaty for the European Union.

Christopher Leslie: The Government have no plans to undertake research on this issue.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Further Education

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research her Department has commissioned into the differences of performance levels between further education colleges in the North and in the South noted in the Ofsted reports, Why colleges succeed, and Why colleges fail, published in November 2004; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: My Department has not commissioned any further research into the differing performance levels of further education colleges in the North and those in the South beyond the analysis provided in the recent Ofsted reports. The Government's strategy is designed to raise standards across the sector and to address poor performance wherever it is found. The strategy includes leadership and workforce development, improved approaches to learning and teaching, and recruitment of lecturers in shortage areas. These were areas pointed out by Ofsted in their report.

Further Education

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research her Department has commissioned into the relationship between the quality of individual schools and further education colleges and the level of diversity in local education provision for 16 to 19-year-olds; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for Education and Skills has not commissioned any research specifically on this issue. The Department uses Ofsted inspection reports for individual colleges and schools, and we also look at data from 1419 Area Inspections when we review policy. The Department also collects statistical data relating to levels of attainment and participation and value added at 1619 in individual areas.

Ofsted

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills by what processes Ofsted interprets and utilises performance data for the purposes of inspection judgments; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: That is a matter for Ofsted. HM inspector, David Bell, will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of his letter in the Library.

Sixth Forms

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she plans to issue further guidance on the relationship between the provisions in the five-year strategy on new school sixth forms and the Strategic Area Review process; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: We set out in our five-year strategy our plans to allow more schools to engage in post-16 provision. The LSC will consult on guidance for competitions for new 1619 provision and on the new joint 1619 capital budget. This will be twinned with Departmental guidance on how these policies fit in with the aims for 1419, and the StAR process. We will be consulting on all three sets of guidance shortly.

Teachers (Leicester)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many full-time equivalent teachers there were in (a) secondary schools and (b) primary schools in Leicester local education authority in 2004.

Stephen Twigg: In January 2004 there were 1,340 full-time equivalent regular teachers in maintained primary schools and a further 1,200 teachers in maintained secondary schools in Leicester local education authority.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

King's Own Scottish Borderers

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Advocate-General if she will make a statement on the writ served on her by the Edinburgh branch of the King's Own Scottish Borderers concerning the amalgamation of the regiment.

Lynda Clark: This action was formally directed against me in accordance with section 1 of the Crown Suits (Scotland) Act 1857. As section 2 of that Act makes clear, responsibility for defending the action lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. I am advised that the action is being defended on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence.

SCOTLAND

Cancer

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what policies his Department has in place for supporting employees with cancer.

Anne McGuire: Scotland Office staff are on loan from either the Scottish Executive or the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Office adheres to the policies of each Department regarding ill health matters.
	The Office is fully committed to employing, supporting and retaining all disabled staff, including those with cancer. This includes making any reasonable adjustments necessary in the workplace, such as the opportunity to return on a part-time medical basis for up to three months and to work a flexible pattern, either permanently or for a shorter period.
	Following a return to work, the Office has discretion to authorise up to a further 60 days sick absence at full pay for future absences where entitlement to sick pay has been exhausted. Staff may also apply for a career break to allow them a longer period away from the office.
	Staff may, if they wish, receive assistance and guidance from the Occupational Health Service or Counselling and Welfare Services in each Department. In addition, staff on loan from the Executive may use its Employee Assistance Programme which is staffed by qualified counsellors.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum Seekers

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many removal notices for failed asylum seekers have been issued in each year since 1997.

Des Browne: Information on the number of removal notices issued to failed asylum seekers is not available.
	Information on the number of principal asylum applicants against whom enforcement action was initiated in each year for which data are available is shown in the table.
	
		Principal asylum applicants against whom enforcement action was initiated1997 to 20041, 2
		
			  Principal asylum applicants 
		
		
			 1997 13,760 
			 1998 14,730 
			 1999  
			 2000 43,465 
			 2001 67,150 
			 2002 46,200 
			 2003(8)  
			 2004(9)  
		
	
	(6) Figures rounded to the nearest 5.
	(7) Illegal entrants detected and persons issued with a notice of intention to deport, recommended for deportation by a court or proceeded against under Section 10.
	(8) Data were not of sufficient quality for publication in 2003, however it is estimated that 18,130 principal asylum applicants had enforcement action initiated against them in this year. Due to poor data quality this is not an official statistic.
	(9) Data for 2004 are not yet available. These will be published in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin Control of Immigration Statistics: United Kingdom, 2004 in summer 2005.
	Statistics on the number of asylum applicants removed from the UK are available from the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers have been removed in each year since 1997.

Des Browne: Information on the number of failed asylum seekers who have been removed from the UK in each year since 1997 is shown in the following table.
	
		Removals, voluntary departures(10), assisted returns, of asylum applicants, 1997 to 2004
		
			 Number of persons 
			  1997 1996 1999(11) 2000(11) 2001(11) 2002 2003(12) 2004(12) 
		
		
			 Principal asylum applicants removed 7,160 6,990 7,665 8,980 9,285 10,740 13,005 12,430 
			 Dependants removed(13) 1,495 3,170 4,890 290 
			 Total removed(13) 10,780 13,910 17,895 14,715 
		
	
	(10) Includes enforced removals, persons departing 'voluntarily' following enforcement action being initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration.
	(11) Figures may include a small number of dependents leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes.
	(12) Provisional figures.
	(13) Data on dependants removed not available before April 2001.
	Note:
	Figures rounded to the nearest 5, and may not sum due to rounding.
	Statistics on the number of asylum applicants removed from the UK are available from the Home Office website at wAAA/.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken since March 2004 to increase the rate of removal of failed asylum seekers.

Des Browne: The Government has introduced a series of initiatives since March 2004 to increase the rate of removals of failed asylum seekers. These include: signing new, improved memoranda of understanding with other countries, strengthened legislation, greater use of reporting centres to maintain contact with asylum seekers at all stages of the asylum process, faster processing of asylum claims, increased detention space, and increasing the number of voluntary returns. We will continue to review our strategy and pursue new initiatives in order to improve the removal process, our aim being to accomplish a monthly rate of removals that exceeds the number of unfounded applications.

Correspondence

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will reply to the letter dated 31 January from Stoke-on-Trent Citizens Advice Bureau regarding Mr Andrey Lazaro.

Des Browne: holding answer 8 March 2005
	The Department replied to the Citizens Advice Bureau on 4 March.

Custody Officers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the Runciman Royal Commission on Criminal Justice in relation to custody officers; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Final Government Response published in June 1996, to the Report of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice, accepted recommendations 4352 of the Report that dealt with, among other things, the role of the custody officer and the use of civilians under the control of the custody officer.
	The Report recommended that the latter should be explored further as the opportunity offers. That opportunity has been taken through the Workforce Modernisation Programme introduced following enactment of the Police Reform Act 2002. The Thematic Report on Workforce Modernisation published in July 2004 by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary recognised the benefits forces were achieving in this area. The Report proposed that police staff could perform the role of custody officer provided appropriate training and co-ordination was in place. That is why we are looking to carry out a pilot programme in a number of force areas for staff custody officers. This will look at processes around selection, training and practical application at the police station.

Deportations

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were deported from the UK in 2004.

Des Browne: Information on the number of people who were deported from the UK is published on an annual basis in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin, Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom.
	64,390 persons were removed from the UK in 2003. This includes people who departed voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated, and those who departed under Assisted Voluntary Return programmes run by the International Organization for Migration. Provisional management information estimates that 480 of these people were removed as a result of deportation action.
	Information on the total number of persons removed (and of those how many were deported) in 2004 will be published in the 2004 edition of this publication. This will be available in August from the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Detention Rates (Young Men)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the Audit Commission's findings relating to detention rates of young black and young white men.

Paul Goggins: The Home Office and the Youth Justice Board have studied the Audit Commission's report Youth Justice 2004. The Government responded to the Commission's main recommendations on 16 December.
	The Youth Justice Board is putting in place a new performance indicator for Youth Offending Teams (Yots) from April 2005. Yots have been required to develop action plans by April 2005 to achieve equal treatment at the local level for comparable offences by different ethnic groups, including engaging sentencers in reviewing data.

Domestic Violence

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on links between drug and alcohol abuse and domestic violence.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 21 February 2005
	We recognise that there are clear links between alcohol use and domestic violence. Studies have shown that there are strong correlations between perpetrators of domestic violence and alcohol use. The British Crime Survey indicated that 32 per cent. of incidents of intimate partner violence were committed when the perpetrator was under the influence of alcohol (Mirlees-Black, 1999). However, it must be stated very strongly that alcohol is a trigger for domestic violence and not a cause.
	In relation to drug use and domestic violence, research from other countries has highlighted that there are clear links. In the UK, research into the links between substance abuse and domestic violence was commissioned and then undertaken by the School of Health and Social Studies at the University of Warwick. The research is now complete and we expect the findings to be published in April.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee on the (i) system for comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of the Dublin Convention (Eurodac) and (ii) jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of paternal responsibility for children of both spouses and on the jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (Brussels I and II) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The Committee established by Article 23 of the Eurodac Regulation 2725/2000 has not met, and there are no immediate plans for it to do so. Meetings of a Eurodac User Group took place in Brussels on 5 September 2003,17 February 2004 and 5 and 6 October 2004 to discuss operational and technical issues. Home Office officials represented the UK at these meetings.
	There have been no meetings of either of the Committees relating to the Regulation on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (Brussels I) or the Regulation on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility for children of both spouses (Brussels II) in the period requested.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to devolve responsibility for the aspects of immigration policy relating to the Fresh Talent initiative to the Scottish Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: holding answer 3 March 2005
	No. The Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme will be delivered by my Department, through a change to the Immigration Rules, and administered by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. The Scottish Executive will monitor the impact of the scheme, which will be reviewed.

Identity Theft

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been the victim of identity theft in the latest three years for which figures are available.

Des Browne: It is not a criminal offence for a person simply to use another identity. However, false identities are often used to facilitate other offences such as deception and money laundering.
	The police do not generally record incidents of identity theft because prosecutions are recorded for the offences facilitated by false identities.
	However, the 240 members of CIFAS, the UK's Fraud Prevention Service for the private sector (mainly financial services companies), identified 74,000 cases of identity and impersonation fraud in 2002, 101,000 in 2003 and 124,000 in 2004.

Illegal Immigrants (Albanians)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Albanian Government on illegal immigrants from that country who have entered the United Kingdom in each of the last three years.

Des Browne: Illegal immigration has been discussed at meetings between Home Office and Albanian Ministers on several occasions over the last three years.
	My hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint), the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Home Office met the Minister of Public Order, Igli Toska, in May 2004 to discuss organised immigration crime including human trafficking, and the Minster of Foreign Affairs Kastriot Islami in February 2004.

Immigrant Testing

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the introduction of language and knowledge tests for immigrants.

Des Browne: Regulations on the level of English language required for naturalisation purposes were introduced on 28 July 2004. I hope to make a statement shortly on the introduction of the requirement that applicants should know something of life in the UK.

Irish Republic (Extraditions)

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many extradition requests from the United Kingdom Government to the Government of the Irish Republic have resulted in the extradition of the person or persons concerned in the last 10 years for which records are available; what representations have been made to the Government of the Irish Republic in respect of non-executed requests; and if he will list those requests not yet executed.

Caroline Flint: Prior to 1 January 2004, extradition between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland was carried out under a backing of warrants system. This was carried out on a police-to-police basis, under the close supervision and assistance of the Crown Prosecution Service with, in cases where the person was an accused rather than a convicted person, the involvement of the UK and Irish Law Officers. The Home Office had minimal involvement in the process and statistics were not kept centrally.
	From 1 January 2004, the extradition process between the UK and Ireland has taken place under the Framework Decision on the European Arrest Warrant (EAW). So far, no one has been returned to the UK from Ireland under this process.
	Her Majesty's Government will not list unexecuted requests, as for good and obvious reasons, we cannot confirm or deny the existence of any arrest warrant before an arrest is made. It follows therefore that information on representations, if any, also cannot be disclosed.
	A similar question was answered on 28 June 2000, Official Report, columns 49596W, and can be found as follows for ease of reference:
	Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons sought by the (a) RUC and (b) other UK police forces were extradited from the Irish Republic to the UK in (i) each of the previous three years and (ii) the current year. [ 125543 ]
	Mr. Mandelson: The table provides details of the numbers of persons sought by the RUC and other UK police forces who have been extradited from the Irish Republic to the UK in the last three years and current year. The figures include both terrorist and non-terrorist cases. It should be noted that the figures for England and Wales are not necessarily complete, as the information is not collated centrally.
	Given the complex nature of extradition proceedings, it is not possible to compare directly the number of extradition requests with the number of individuals extradited in any given year. With appeal proceedings the process may take a number of years to be completed.
	
		
			  Applications made Extradited 
		
		
			 Great Britain   
			 1997 22 10 
			 1998 29 16 
			 1999 17 11 
			 2000 4 1 
			
			 Northern Ireland   
			 1997 8 3 
			 1998 6 6 
			 1999 6 3 
			 2000 1 1 
		
	
	At the time the CPS manually reviewed their records to answer the question. The CPS no longer has the resources to review their records between June 2000 and December 2003.

Jamaican Prisoners

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has had with the Government of Jamaica about repatriating Jamaican nationals serving prison sentences in the United Kingdom.

Paul Goggins: The Government fully support the humanitarian principles underpinning prisoner transfer agreements and is keen to conclude such an agreement with Jamaica. However, in May 2004, the Jamaican Government reiterated its position that it did not wish to pursue prisoner transfers with the United Kingdom or any other country. The Government have had no further contact with the Jamaican authorities on this issue.

Migrant Workers

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of visas issued to migrant workers relate to (a) agricultural employment, (b) catering and (c) the care system.

Chris Mullin: I have been asked to reply.
	UKvisas does not keep a record of visas issued in the categories requested by the hon. Member.
	For the financial year 200304, visas issued to work permits as a percentage of total applications received for entry clearance to the UK was 2.29 per cent., au pairs 0.19 per cent. and working holiday makers 2.67 per cent.

Migrant Workers

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Department keeps records of the companies who offer work to migrant workers.

Des Browne: The Home Office holds records of all employers who make work permit applications to employ workers from outside the European Economic Area. Records are also held of farmers and growers who employ people under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme. In addition, information is available about the employers who have recruited nationals from the new EU accession states from 1 May 2004 under the Worker Registration Scheme. Students from overseas and those entering the UK under the Working Holidaymaker Scheme may also take employment, subject to restrictions, but no records are held of the employers involved.

National Probation Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budget change for the National Probation Service will be for 200506, broken down by area.

Paul Goggins: The percentage increases for the 42 local probation boards are shown in the following table. In addition, the Home Office has provided 13 million, equivalent to 2.3 per cent., to fund the increase in the cost of the Probation Estate in 200506. The Home Office has also set aside a reserve fund of up to 25 million, equivalent to 4.5 per cent., to fund the increase in local employer pension contribution rates following the tri-ennial actuarial review of pension funds.
	
		Local probation boardsIncrease in main resource grant
		
			  Percentage increase in main resource grant 
		
		
			 South West 10.2 
			 Avon and Somerset 7.7 
			 Devon and Cornwall 12.3 
			 Dorset 7.8 
			 Gloucestershire 7.8 
			 Wiltshire 16.0 
			 Eastern 11.6 
			 Bedfordshire 12.5 
			 Cambridgeshire 16.5 
			 Essex 7.7 
			 Hertfordshire 10.8 
			 Norfolk 15.2 
			 Suffolk 11.2 
			   
			 North West 9.6 
			 Cheshire 7.8 
			 Cumbria 12.3 
			 Lancashire 8.2 
			 Greater Manchester 9.9 
			 Merseyside 10.6 
			   
			 East Midlands 12.6 
			 Derbyshire 12.0 
			 Leicestershire 14.2 
			 Lincolnshire 12.4 
			 Northamptonshire 12.9 
			 Nottinghamshire 11.8 
			 North East 10.6 
			 Durham 10.8 
			 Teesside 12.5 
			 Northumbria 9.7 
			   
			 South East 9.5 
			 Hampshire 12.2 
			 Kent 7.8 
			 Surrey 7.8 
			 Sussex 11.0 
			 Thames Valley 8.0 
			   
			 Yorkshire and Humber 9.0 
			 Humberside 11.6 
			 North Yorkshire 11.8 
			 South Yorkshire 8.3 
			 West Yorkshire 7.7 
			   
			 West Midlands 13.4 
			 Staffordshire 11.9 
			 Warwickshire 11.4 
			 West Mercia 12.0 
			 West Midlands 14.5 
			   
			 London 11.1 
			   
			 Wales 11.3 
			 Dyfed-Powys 15.8 
			 Gwent 13.6 
			 North Wales 11.0 
			 South Wales 8.8 
			   
			 Total 10.8

Newspapers/Periodicals

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the (a) newspapers and (b) periodicals taken by his Department in each year since 1997; and how much the Department spent on each in each year.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information contained in annex A, is the list of purchases for the year 200304 and is those purchases of Newspapers and periodicals made through the two central contracts with Jones-Yarrell  Swets. This does not include any purchases made locally or by non-departmental public bodies (NDPB's) as this data could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The following are the total costs for the specified years through the Jones-Yarrell  Swets UK contracts for the Home Office and agencies, these costs could be broken down only to the required level at disproportionate cost:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 199798(14)  
			 199899 161,108 
			 19992000 187,685 
			 200001 151,865 
			 200102 138,527 
			 200203 132,632 
			 200304 155,058 
		
	
	(14) The costs for 19971998 are unavailable.
	This does not include expenditure by NDPB's or items purchased locally. This information is not held centrally and collection of this data could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.
	Annex A
	The list of newspapers and periodicals purchased through Jones-Yarrell for this financial year is:
	List of Newspapers
	Financial Times
	Times
	Telegraph
	Guardian
	Independent
	Mail
	Express
	Mirror
	Sun
	Star
	Sunday Times
	Observer
	Sunday Telegraph
	Chronicle
	Independent on Sunday
	Mail on Sunday
	Sunday Express
	News of the World
	Sunday People
	Sunday Mirror
	Daily Sunday Star
	Evening Standard News Extra
	Evening Standard Final
	Croydon Advertiser
	List of Periodicals
	Jewish Chronicle
	New Statesman
	PR Week
	Radio Times
	Economist
	Press Gazette
	Voice Weekly
	Spectator
	Private Eye
	Auto Express
	New Nation
	MJ
	Local Government
	Caribbean Times
	Eastern Eye
	Computer Weekly
	Community Care
	Big Issue
	What Car
	QAG Railway Guide
	Campaign
	Marketing
	Marketing Week
	Police Review
	Tribune
	An accurate list for previous years could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.
	The titles subscribed to by the Home Office and Agencies, using the Swets UK contract are available in the Library.

Police Custody

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mentally ill people have died in police custody since 2001 in (a) the UK, (b) Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland and (c) the North East.

Hazel Blears: Information collated by the Home Office on deaths during or following police contact in England and Wales does not specify the mental condition of the person.
	We are aware of those people who have been detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act and who have died during or following police contact. The number of deaths in this category in England and Wales since 2001 by force area is as follows:
	
		
			 Force area Total 
		
		
			 200001  
			 None 0 
			 200102  
			 Staffordshire  
			 Lancashire 2 
			 200203  
			 West Midlands 1 
			 200304  
			 Dorset  
			 Metropolitan police  
			 Essex  
			 Cleveland 4 
		
	
	Both the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Office advise that figures are not held centrally to enable the breakdown into the requested category.

Police Custody

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve training of police officers to enable them to deal more effectively with mentally ill people.

Hazel Blears: Justice and Offenders Service, Health, Education and Development (JOSHED) was established in December 2003 to develop cross-agency National Occupational Standards and accredited training on health awareness issues, including mental health awareness. A scoping study was commissioned by the group in January 2004 to identify common training needs across the criminal justice and correctional services agencies, including the police. It identified and made recommendations for the improvement of training which are under consideration by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
	The Strategy for Improving Performance in Race and Diversity 200409 aims to improve police performance in race and diversity, including dealing more effectively with mentally ill people. As part of the Strategy, which was launched in November 2004 and developed jointly between the Home Office, ACPO and the Association of Police Authorities (APA), learning materials about the interaction between police officers and mentally ill people are being prepared for police officers and staff. ACPO is also undertaking a review of the National Learning Requirement for mental health awareness training in the light of a report on 'Mental Health and Social Exclusion' published by the Social Exclusion Unit in June 2004.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Business Rates

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many appeals there have been against the recent re-valuations of business properties, broken down by local authority area.

Nick Raynsford: None. The new rating lists take effect from 1 April 2005 and ratepayers will be able to appeal against their new rateable value from that date.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the outturn Band D council tax precepts are for 200506 for each fire authority in England and Wales.

Nick Raynsford: Information on Band D council taxes for fire authorities 200506 is currently being collected by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Figures will be published on 23 March as part of the statistical release on council taxes for 200506.
	Once it has been set as part of the budget-setting process, an authority's council tax for a particular financial year remains unchanged at outturn, unless an alternative, and lower, figure is set as a result of the authority setting a substitute budget. The results of any such calculations for 200506 that take place before its budget return for 200607 is submitted would be reported as part of the previous year's information collected on the 200607 return.

Council Tax

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average Band D council tax in England was in 200405; and what percentage of national annual average earnings this represented.

Nick Raynsford: The average Band D council tax in England in 200405 is 1,167, including amounts funded from council tax benefit.
	This represents 5.1 per cent. of the mean gross annual pay in England in 2004, which was 22,893, according to the 2004 Office for National Statistics Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings.
	It should be noted, however, that the figures are not directly comparable, because there are many properties for which the council tax is payable by more than one wage-earner.

Council Tax

David Lidington: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what Band D council tax equivalent figure his Department uses in respect of each new property in (a) Aylesbury Vale district, (b) Chiltern district, (c) Wycombe district and (d) Milton Keynes unitary authority to be set against the formula spending share when calculating grant distribution; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The figures are 181.93 for Aylesbury Vale district council, Chiltern district council, and Wycombe district council: and 967.38 for Milton Keynes unitary authority. The figures are different because Aylesbury Vale district, Chiltern district and Wycombe district councils only provide district-level services whereas Milton Keynes unitary authority provides both district and county level services.

Disabled Facilities Grant

David Lidington: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much (a) was made available in 200405 and (b) will be made available in 200506 to (i) local authorities in south-east England, (ii) Aylesbury Vale district council, (iii) Chiltern district council, (iv) Wycombe district council and (v) Milton Keynes unitary authority through disabled facilities grant.

Yvette Cooper: The Government pay a specified capital grant to local authorities each year which covers 60 per cent. of total local authority expenditure on disabled facilities grants (DFG). This is subject to an annual allocation limit for each authority announced prior to the beginning of the relevant financial year.
	The allocation of Government grant for DFG for years 200405 and 200506 to (i) local authorities in south-east England, (ii) Aylesbury Vale district council, (iii) Chiltern district council, (iv) Wycombe district council and (v) Milton Keynes unitary authority are tabled as follows:
	
		000
		
			 Region/authority 200405 200506 
		
		
			 Total for the south-east 17,211 17,070 
			 Aylesbury Vale district council 286 286 
			 Chiltern district council 135 132 
			 Wycombe district council 270 270 
			 Milton Keynes unitary authority 300 300

Electrical Regulations

Chris Grayling: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the number of training places available for electricians wishing to obtain qualifications under the part P electrical regulations.

Phil Hope: Training places for those wishing to obtain the qualifications necessary for registration with a part P authorised competent person scheme are provided mainly by technical colleges in England and Wales and in some cases by the operators of the competent person schemes.
	Officials met representatives of the training providers to advise them that there was likely to be a significant increase in those wishing to attend the relevant courses and most providers have increased the number of places available.

Electrical Regulations

Chris Grayling: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of whether local authorities will need to employ additional staff to monitor part P electrical regulations.

Phil Hope: It is for each local authority in England and Wales to decide where it needs to employ additional resources to carry out its building control functions in relation to part P of the Building Regulations. Local authorities are likely to make such decisions on the basis of the number of additional submissions of building notices or full plans.

Homelessness

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of the population of Leicester were homeless in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Information about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected quarterly and is in respect of households rather than people. The number of households accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need and the number of households in temporary accommodation arranged by local authorities under homelessness legislation as at 31 March of each year in Leicester, since 1997, is tabled. Also shown is the number of acceptances and in temporary accommodation as a percentage of all households in Leicester.
	After being accepted as homeless, a household will be placed in some form of accommodation. They may be placed in temporary accommodation, until a settled solution becomes available, or they may be given a settled solution straight away depending on the accommodation available to the local authority. As an alternative to temporary accommodation an authority may arrange for a household to remain in their current accommodation (homeless at home), until a settled solution becomes available.
	
		Leicester unitary council
		
			   Acceptances1, 2 Households in temporary accommodation2, 3 (as at 31 March) Rough sleepers(18) 
			  Mid-year household estimates(19) (thousand) Total As a percentage of all households Total As a percentage of all households Total (number of persons) 
		
		
			 1997 114 (20)266 0.2 (21) (21) 20 
			 1998 114 (20)551 0.5 380 0.3 9 
			 1999 114 669 0.6 (21) (21) 10 
			 2000 114 680 0.6 8 0 7 
			 2001 112 901 0.8 240 0.2 5 
			 2002 113 1,090 1 (21) (21) 6 
			 2003 114 684 0.6 76 0.1 3 
		
	
	(15) Households eligible under homelessness legislation and found to be unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category. Figures provided are for the financial year (i.e. April to March).
	(16) The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister PIE homelessness returns (quarterly).
	(17) Households in accommodation either pending a decision on their homelessness application or awaiting re-allocation of a settled home following acceptance. Excludes those households designated as homeless at home that have remained in their existing accommodation and have the same rights to suitable alternative accommodation as those in accommodation arranged by the authority.
	(18) The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (annual).
	(19) Estimated as at 30 of June each year. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	(20) Data received for three quarters only. Annual figure includes ODPM estimates for the missing quarter.
	(21) Indicates that data were not reported by Leicester on the PIE return.
	Information is also collected, since 1998, on the number of people who sleep rough, that is, those who are literally roofless on a single night. The above table shows number of persons sleeping rough in Leicester district, on a single night.
	Quarterly Statistical Releases on statutory homelessness published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister include information on decisions, and households in temporary accommodation, at local authority level in an associated Supplementary Table. The latest Release of, 13 December, and previous editions are available both in the Library of the House and via the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website.

Housing

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which sites have been transferred from the Department of Health to his Department for affordable housing for key workers.

Keith Hill: No sites have transferred to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister or English Partnerships to date. It is expected that the first vacant sites will transfer shortly. A list of those sites transferring will be made available at that time. The future use of each site will be determined by reference to local planning policies and strategies and in consultation with the relevant local authorities. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects many of the sites to be suitable for the provision of affordable housing.

Local Government Finance/Services

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects the Lyons Review into the balance of funding to report.

Nick Raynsford: The Lyons Inquiry into local government funding is due to report to my right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer by the end of 2005.

Local Government Finance/Services

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what research his Department (a) has (i) conducted and (ii) commissioned and (b) plans to commission into the costs of providing services in rural areas;
	(2)  what assessment he (a) has made and (b) plans to make of the impact of population dispersal in a local authority area on the cost of providing local government services; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment he (a) has made and (b) plans to make of the impact of settlement patterns in a local authority area on the cost of providing local government services; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what plans his Department has for improving the funding of public services in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: I announced on 2 February 2005, Official Report, column 912, that the Local Government Finance formula freeze had come to an end, and that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister would aim to introduce revised funding formulae in 200607. In general in 200607, our priority is to review and replace funding formula which no longer reflect the pattern of service provision on the ground, or which are calculated using very out of date data.
	Several funding formulae currently contain a sparsity top-up which is calculated using information from the 1991 Census. This top-up recognises the higher costs of service delivery that are likely to occur in sparsely populated areas.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not currently planning to undertake any research into the extra costs of providing services in rural areas. However as part of the current formula review the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will re-assess how best to take account of sparsity in these funding formulae. This work will need to consider which data best reflect differences in the cost of providing services in rural areas, be it data on population density, settlement patterns or population dispersal.

Neighbourhood Renewal

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much money the Government have given to neighbourhood renewal programmes in each year since 1997; and which neighbourhoods have been included in such programmes.

Yvette Cooper: The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit (NRU) was set up in April 2001. The funding for neighbourhood renewal programmes in each year since the establishment of the NRU is tabled as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200102 304 
			 200203 546 
			 200304 756 
			 200405 (Forecast spend) 817 
		
	
	Most NRU funding is targeted at the 88 most deprived local authority areas in England which are listed. In addition 18 areas also listed separately receive funding for Neighbourhood Management partnerships and Norwich received funding for its new deal for communities partnership.
	List of eligible areas for NRU funding
	Allerdale
	Ashfield
	Barking and Dagenham
	Barnsley
	Barrow-in-Furness
	Birmingham
	Blackburn with Darwen
	Blackpool
	Bolsover
	Bolton
	Bradford
	Brent
	Brighton and Hove
	Bristol, City of
	Burnley
	Camden
	Coventry
	Croydon
	Derby
	Derwentside
	Doncaster
	Dudley
	Ealing
	Easington
	Enfield
	Gateshead
	Great Yarmouth
	Greenwich
	Hackney
	Halton
	Hammersmith and Fulham
	Haringey
	Hartlepool
	Hastings
	Hyndburn
	Islington
	Kensington and Chelsea
	Kerrier
	Kingston-upon-Hull
	Kirklees
	Knowsley
	Lambeth
	Leeds
	Leicester
	Lewisham
	Lincoln
	Liverpool
	Luton
	Manchester
	Mansfield
	Middlesbrough
	Newcastle upon Tyne
	Newham
	North Tyneside
	Nottingham
	Oldham
	Pendle
	Penwith
	Plymouth
	Portsmouth
	Preston
	Redcar and Cleveland
	Rochdale
	Rotherham
	Salford
	Sandwell
	Sedgefield
	Sefton
	Sheffield
	Southampton
	South Tyneside
	Southwark
	St. Helens
	Stockon-on-Tees
	Stoke-on-Trent
	Sunderland
	Tameside
	Tower Hamlets
	Wakefield
	Walsall
	Waltham Forest
	Wandsworth
	Wansbeck
	Wear Valley
	Westminster
	Wigan
	Wirral
	Wolverhampton
	Neighbourhood Management Pathfinders
	Bassetlaw
	Staveley
	Fenland
	Basildon
	Blyth Valley
	Chester
	Lancaster
	Isle of Wight
	Shepway
	North Devon
	Bournemouth
	Gloucester
	Wyre Forest
	East Staffordshire
	Calderdale
	North Lincolnshire
	Solihull
	Newcastle Under Lyme

NHS Estate Transfers

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the (a) sites and (b) assets transferred to (i) his Department and (ii) English Partnerships by NHS estates as land surplus to the NHS in each of the last five years.

Keith Hill: No sites have yet been transferred from the NHS estates to either the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister or English Partnerships. My right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health announced in April 2004 that a portfolio of around 100 surplus NHS sites would be transferred to help deliver the objectives of the sustainable communities plan. It is expected that the first of these will be transferred to English Partnerships shortly. A list of those sites transferring will be made available at that time.

Rural Services

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received regarding the costs of providing services in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received 233 representations on the 200506 financial settlement. Of these, five representations were made in support of a review of either the sparsity indicator currently used in funding formulae; or of the needs of sparsely populated areas.

Staff Surveys

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was paid to consultants carrying out staff surveys in the Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created in May 2002. One staff survey has been conducted since that date, in January 2003. The amount paid to consultants to undertake this survey was 51,820 excluding VAT.
	The staff survey collects data about staff demographics and attitudes which informs the development of corporate strategies. Through regular staff surveys, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also able to measure progress against the delivery of corporate objectives and benchmark itself against similar organisations.

Travellers

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost to public funds of providing legal advice, assistance and support in relation to planning applications and appeals in respect of Traveller encampments in North Essex has been in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	The Legal Services Commission (LSC) provides funding for a national helpline for Gypsies and Travellers at a cost of around 50,000 a year. It is not possible to say how much of this money was spent in relation to North Essex.
	In addition, legal help, which provides for basic advice and assistance, is available subject to satisfying the statutory tests of the applicant's means and the merits of the case. The LSC does not hold data on how much legal help is awarded to Gypsies and Travellers.
	Legal representation at planning applications and appeals is generally outside the scope of legal aid. However, since April 2000, funding can be made available in exceptional cases under section 6(8)(b) of the Access to Justice Act 1999, when the relevant criteria are satisfied, for example, where the case concerns the applicant's home. This protects the applicant's fundamental rights and ensures a fair hearing. It is not possible to give a precise figure for total costs, but since April 2000, a maximum of 45,000 plus VAT (excluding legal help costs) has been spent on planning applications in relation to Gypsy and Traveller encampments. None of these applications related to planning applications or appeals in North Essex.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Cancer

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what policies her Department has in place for supporting employees with cancer.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department's external counselling service is available to all DTI HQ staff (and their family members) through EAR Accor Services. Their Employee Assistance Programme offers both a Counselling and an Information service.
	If Accor is contacted by an employee with cancer, they will undertake an initial assessment and if appropriate, arrange face to face counselling session. They can also provide information and literature on cancer through specialist organisations such as Cancer Bacup as well as information on benefits, home support, and hospital discharge plans among others which is tailored to the individual employee.
	My Department's Equal Opportunities Policy seeks to ensure there is no discrimination against people who have declared progressive conditions such as cancer which could reduce physical capacity. Staff may also receive help and advice on adjustments from the Departmental Disabled Persons Officer as well as the Department's Medical Adviser, to provide appropriate support for that employee in the workplace.

Child Poverty

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to achieve the Government's targets of (a) ending child poverty by 2020 and (b) halving it by 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 2 March 2005
	Making work pay and supporting parents in balancing their work and family responsibilities helps enable parents to participate in the labour market, which in turn is critical to tackling child poverty.
	Since October 2004, the minimum wage (adult rate), in conjunction with the working families tax credit and other benefits have provided a guaranteed minimum income of at least 252 a week for families with one child and one earner in full-time work (35 hours per week). On 25 February we announced that the minimum wage will be increased to 5.05 from October 2005.
	In 2003 we introduced a new right for parents to request a flexible working pattern. In the first year 800,000 requests were either wholly or partly accepted. In addition to this new entitlement, we extended maternity leave so most mothers can choose to take up to one year. We also introduced new rights to two weeks' paid paternity leave and introduced paid adoption leave.
	On 28 February my Department published a consultation document, Work and Families: Choice and Flexibility. Through the consultation we are seeking views on the details of commitments and proposals set out in the 2004 pre-Budget report which build on the our successful package of family friendly working rights. These include extending Statutory Maternity Pay, Maternity Allowance and Statutory Adoption Pay to nine months from April 2007 towards a goal of a year's paid leave by the end of the next Parliament, introducing a right for mothers to transfer a proportion of their maternity leave and pay to fathers, and looking at options for extending the right to request flexible working to carers of adults and to parents of older children. These measures would give families more choice about how to balance their work and caring responsibilities, supporting parents who may otherwise have been forced to drop out of the labour market to stay in work.
	Copies of the consultation document have been placed in the Libraries of the House and are available on the DTI website at www.dti.gov.uk/workandfamilies.

Congestion Charge

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent on congestion (a) charges and (b) penalty charge notices by the Department since the commencement of the congestion charging scheme.

Patricia Hewitt: None.

Departmental Advertising

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in which Muslim newspapers the Department advertises; and what kinds of advertising the Department places in Muslim newspapers.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department has conducted campaign advertising on the national minimum wage in the following newspapers with a substantial Muslim readership:
	The Nation
	Bangla Mirror
	Bangla Express
	Janomot
	Notun Din
	Surma
	Eastern Eye.
	My Department also advertised in several ethnic language publications that have a smaller Muslim readership. These are:
	Des Pardes
	Gujurat Samachar
	Punjab Times.

Departmental Consultants

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much expenditure her Department has incurred in each year since 2002 on employing external consultants to deal with the press and public relations of her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: Most of my Department's press and public relations activity is undertaken by its own professional communications staff. However, in instances where additional resources or niche skills are required, programme budget holders are from time to time authorised to engage external press and public relations consultants to undertake work in relation to specific ring-fenced and time-limited projects. Details of such expenditure are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much her Department has spent in each year since 2000 providing printed information for the public.

Patricia Hewitt: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the Committee of experts on the transit of natural gas through grids met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The conciliation body established by Article 3(4) of Directive 91/296/EEC of 31 May 1991 on the transit of natural gas through grids never met. Directive 91/296/EEC was repealed by the 2003 Gas Directive2003/55/ECwith effect from 1 July 2004.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the EC-Canada Joint Committee on scientific and technological co-operation met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The EU Canada Steering Committee met in Brussels on 9 March 2004 during the Irish Presidency. Meetings are convened by the Commission and the member states are not invited; therefore no UK officials attended.

EU Legislation

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of all the (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation sponsored by her Department in the 200304 parliamentary session was consequent on EU legislation.

Patricia Hewitt: During the 200304 session my Department sponsored the following five Bills:
	Civil Partnership
	Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise)
	Employment Relations
	Energy
	Patents
	TwoEmployment Relations and Energycontained elements implementing requirements arising from EU Directives or Regulations.
	Of the 133 Statutory Instruments introduced by my Department in the 200304 Session, 25 contained elements implementing requirements arising from EU Directives or Regulations.

Iraq

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the British companies being assisted by her Department who have won contracts in Iraq.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department has provided information and assistance to a number of British companies who have won contracts in Iraq. However, British companies are not required to report details to the Government of contracts they have won or work they are doing in Iraq. Nor is there a central organisation that collects and publishes such information. There is therefore no definitive list of such firms.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints about claims handling companies were made to her Department in 2004; and how many of these were referred to the Law Society.

Nigel Griffiths: The Department receives a substantial level of correspondence regarding the administration of the coal health schemes. However, we do not keep a breakdown of the subject matters covered and are not therefore able to provide details of how many complaints have been received.
	The Law Society is not responsible for the overseeing of claims handlers.

Ministerial Stationery

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent on official ministerial (a) business cards, (b) headed paper and (c) compliment slips in each year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: The Departments' accounting systems cannot provide information broken down to the level of detail requested. Information on spend at this level of detail could be obtainable only at disproportionate cost.

Parliamentary Questions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will reply to question reference 213225, tabled for answer on 31 January.

Patricia Hewitt: I have answered the question today.

Parliamentary Questions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will reply to question reference 214200, tabled on 1 February.

Nigel Griffiths: I answered the question on 21 February.

Small Firms

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when her Department intends to adjudicate on the application lodged on 19 January by Green Amp Ltd. concerning compliance approval under the Small Firms Loan Guarantee scheme.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 4 March 2005
	The Small Business Service received a Small Firm Loan Guarantee application from Green Amp Ltd.'s bank on 1 March 2005. It was processed within the usual time scale of five working days.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the occasions between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004 when special advisers attended meetings with external representatives at which Ministers were not present.

Patricia Hewitt: Special advisers hold meetings with a wide range of external representatives in their official capacity. All meetings held by special advisers and all speeches given by special advisers are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to ensure that successful competitions have been completed for the management of at least 50 per cent. of UK nuclear sites by the end of 2008 will be met;
	(2)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to demonstrate progress by 2006 on raising the rate of UK productivity growth over the economic cycle;
	(3)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to promote ethnic diversity in the workplace;
	(4)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to narrow the productivity gap with the US, France and Germany;
	(5)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to improve the UK's competitiveness;
	(6)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to promote co-operative employment relations;
	(7)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to establish a safe, innovative and dynamic market for nuclear clean-up;
	(8)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to deliver annual 2 per cent. efficiency gains in nuclear clean up from 200607 will be met;
	(9)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to promote greater choice and commitment in the workplace;
	(10)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to reduce the civil nuclear liability by 10 per cent. by 2010 will be met;
	(11)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to improve the international performance of the UK's science and engineering base;
	(12)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to maintain energy security;
	(13)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to ensure that the UK ranks in the top three most competitive energy markets in the EU and G7 in each year will be met in 2005;
	(14)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to bring the UK levels of consumer protection up to the level of the best by 2006 will be met;
	(15)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to achieve fuel poverty objectives;
	(16)  whether the Public Service Agreement target to ensure that the UK ranks in the top three most competitive energy markets in the EU and G7 in each year was met in 2004;
	(17)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to bring the UK levels of consumer empowerment up to the level of the best by 2006 will be met;
	(18)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to improve the exploitation of the UK science base;
	(19)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to improve the overall innovation performance of the UK economy;
	(20)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to bring the UK levels of competition up to the level of the best by 2006 will be met;
	(21)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to place empowered consumers at the heart of an effective competition regime;
	(22)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to improve the environment;
	(23)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to improve the sustainable use of natural resources;
	(24)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to increase the number of people considering going into business;
	(25)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to increase enterprise in disadvantaged communities;
	(26)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to improve the overall productivity of small firms;
	(27)  what recent progress has been made towards achieving the Public Service Agreement target to reduce the persistent gap in growth rates between the English regions over the long-term;
	(28)  what recent progress has been made towards achieving the Public Service Agreement target to make sustainable improvements in the economic performance of all English regions by 2008;
	(29)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to build an enterprise society in which small firms thrive;
	(30)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010 will be met;
	(31)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to increase the use of energy saving technologies;
	(32)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to (a) secure agreement to a significant reduction in trade barriers and (b) improve trading opportunities for the UK and developing countries by 2005 will be met;
	(33)  what recent progress has been made towards achieving the Public Service Agreement target of moving towards a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions below 1990 levels by 2010;
	(34)  what recent progress has been made towards achieving the Public Service Agreement target to create an extensive and competitive broadband market;
	(35)  whether the Public Service Agreement target to achieve value for money improvements of 2.5 per cent. a year across her Department was met in 2004;
	(36)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to maintain the reliability of energy supplies;
	(37)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to promote fair, competitive markets;
	(38)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to maintain the UK as the prime location in the EU for foreign direct investment;
	(39)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to eliminate fuel poverty in vulnerable households in England by 2010 will be met;
	(40)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to achieve value for money improvements of 2.5 per cent. a year across her Department will be met in 2005;
	(41)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to increase the employment rate by 2006 will be met;
	(42)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to bring about measurable improvements in gender equality by 2006 will be met;
	(43)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to deliver a measurable improvement in the business performance of UK Trade and Investment's international trade customers by 2008;
	(44)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to reduce significantly the difference between the overall employment rate and the employment rate of ethnic minorities by 2006 will be met;
	(45)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to maintain a flexible labour market.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department reports on progress towards its Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets in its Departmental Reports and Autumn Performance Reports. The most recent of these assessments is contained in the Autumn Performance Report 2004 (Cm 6422 www.dti.gov.uk/pdfs/DTI_Autumn_Performance_Report_2004.pdf) which was laid before Parliament on 7 December 2004. This report gives the most recent assessment of progress towards all of the Department's PSA targets from the 2002 and earlier Spending Review.
	The Department's first assessment of progress towards its PSA targets from the 2004 Spending Review will be in the Autumn Performance Report 2005.

VAT Registrations

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses were (a) registered and (b) de-registered for VAT in each year since 2001 in each (i) constituency and (ii) region.

Nigel Griffiths: DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations and de-registrations are not available at constituency level, however local authority level data are available and are published on the Small Business Service website, VAT registrations and de-registrations for the UK regions and countries are shown as follows for 2001 to 2003. Data for 2004 will be available in autumn 2005.
	Barclays have also revised the methodology for calculating the number of start-ups and have not published revised start or closure figures for the regions before 2003. Barclays bank's start-up data for each region and Wales for 2003 and for the first half of 2004 are given as follows.
	
		
			 Region 2003 First half 2004 
		
		
			 East 47,500 28,600 
			 East Midlands 34,700 21,300 
			 London 84,300 57,200 
			 North East 15,100 9,800 
			 North West 57,400 34,200 
			 South East 76,300 46,300 
			 South West 52,400 30,600 
			 West Midlands 38,000 23,200 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 37,700 23,300 
			 Wales 21,500 13,700 
		
	
	Source:
	Barclays Small Business Banking: Business Survey 200304
	DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations and de-registrations are not available at constituency level, however local authority level data are available and are published on the Small Business Service website. VAT registrations and de-registrations for the UK regions and countries are shown as follows for 2001 to 2003. Data for 2004 will be available in autumn 2005.
	
		
			  Registrations 
		
		
			  2001 2002 2003 
			 East 16,475 17,700 18,615 
			 East Midlands 11,150 11,920 12,760 
			 London 33,380 33,340 36,590 
			 North East 4,090 4,310 4,640 
			 North West 16,270 17,260 18,840 
			 South East 27,045 28,430 30,345 
			 South West 14,295 15,295 16,175 
			 West Midlands 13,930 14,405 15,630 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 11,590 12,265 13,695 
			 England 148,220 154,925 167,290 
			 Northern Ireland 3,440 3,465 3,775 
			 Scotland 10,850 11,010 11,915 
			 Wales 5,935 6,305 6,910 
		
	
	
		
			  De-registrations 
		
		
			  2001 2002 2003 
			 East 15,005 15,615 17,005 
			 East Midlands 9,715 10,360 11,135 
			 London 30,760 33,215 34,565 
			 North East 4,035 4,035 4,010 
			 North West 15,125 16,390 16,575 
			 South East 23,320 25,535 27,785 
			 South West 12,830 13,865 14,840 
			 West Midlands 12,365 13,175 14,540 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 11,000 11,790 11,650 
			 England 134,160 143,980 152,100 
			 Northern Ireland 2,940 2,870 3,950 
			 Scotland 10,415 10,635 11,380 
			 Wales 5,325 6,435 6,925 
		
	
	Source:
	Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 19942003, Small Business Service, available from: www.sbs.gov.uk/analytical/statistics/vatstats.php
	VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 4 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2003.

VAT Registrations

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many VAT registrations there have been in Hartlepool in each year since 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations for Hartlepool unitary authority are shown as follows for the period 1997 to 2003. Data on VAT registrations are also available in the Library of the House. Data for 2004 will be available in autumn 2005.
	
		VAT registrations 19972003Hartlepool
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 110 
			 1998 130 
			 1999 110 
			 2000 110 
			 2001 115 
			 2002 105 
			 2003 135 
		
	
	Source:
	Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 19942003, Small Business Service, available from: www.sbs.gov.uk/analytical/statistics/vatstats.php
	VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 4 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2003.

TRANSPORT

Agency Staff

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are employed by (a) the Driver Standards Agency, (b) Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority, (c) Vehicle Certification Authority and (d) Vehicle and Operator Service Agency; what the running costs of each body was in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the future of each body.

David Jamieson: The information is as follows.
	DVLA
	1. At 1 April, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) employed 6,250 staff on a full-time equivalent basis.
	2. The most recent published accounts for the DVLA are for the 200304 financial year, in which the operating costs of the agency were 381.2 million.
	3. As part of its realisation of efficiency gains, the DVLA has plans to reduce the number of staff employed by at least 500 by 200708.
	DSA
	1. At 1 April 2004, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) employed 2,263 staff on a full-time equivalent basis.
	2. The most recent published accounts for DSA are for the 200304 financial year, in which the running costs of the agency were 113.8 million.
	3. Demand for driving tests has continued to increase significantly leading to a major recruitment and training exercise for driving examiners and supporting call centre, deployment and customer service staff. The DSA plans to increase staff by around 350 by 200506. Of these over 230 will be driving examiners.
	VCA
	1. At 1 April 2004, the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) employed 110 staff on a full-time equivalent basis.
	2. The most recent published accounts for VCA are for the 200304 financial year, in which the running costs of the agency were 7.5 million.
	3. There are currently no plans to change the number of staff employed by the VCA.
	VOSA
	1. At 1 April 2004, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) employed 2,650 staff on a full-time equivalent basis.
	2. The most recent published accounts for VOSA are for the 200304 financial year, in which the operating costs of the agency were 127 million.
	3. There are currently no plans to change the number of staff employed by VOSA.
	Ongoing review
	We keep all four agencies under review, in accordance with Government guidelines, to ensure that their function is still required and that they continue to provide the most effective means of carrying out those functions.

Airport Security

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) the Home Office, (b) the Security Services, (c) the National Criminal Intelligence Service, (d) the National Crime Squad, (e) the Immigration Service, (f) Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and (g) the Association of Chief Police Officers, regarding the level of security at UK airports.

Charlotte Atkins: Department for Transport Ministers and Officials keep the threat to civil aviation in the UK, and the security measures in place at UK airports, under constant review in conjunction with the organisations listed and the aviation industry. In addition to regular bilateral discussions on specific issues, these bodies are represented on relevant cross-departmental ministerial and Cabinet Office committees; the National Aviation Security Committee (NASC) and its various sub-committees; and the Multi-Agency Threat and Risk Assessment (MATRA) groups that have been established at all UK airports.

Departmental Policies

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Coventry, South constituency, the effects on Coventry, South of changes to his Department's policy since 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department has put in place a considerable programme of improvements across a wide range of transport policy areas since 1997. I am confident that the Coventry, South constituency benefited from these. For example, the injury totals for all road casualties in Great Britain fell from 32 7,803 in 1997 to 290,607 in 2003, and the numbers of children aged under 16 years killed or seriously injured on our roads fell from 6,452 in 1997 to 4,100 in 2003. On our railways, passenger kilometres have increased from 32.1 billion in 199667 to 40.9 billion in 200304, a rise of 27 per cent. In terms of improvements to air quality emissions of the UK's two main pollutantsnitrous oxides and particlesfell by 31 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively between 1997 and 2002.
	The funding provided directly to West Midlands metropolitan authorities since 1997 is shown in the following table 1 . It has been for West Midlands metropolitan authorities to determine how that allocation is spent, in line with its local transport plan and its priorities.
	1 Funding allocations for 199798 not included since they cover a period proceeding May 1997 and announcements concerning the 199798 allocation were made in 1996.
	
		 million
		
			 West Midlands metropolitan authorities nature of funding 199899 1999 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Capital maintenance 7.557 11.516 13.331 22.361 26.246 21.942 24.723 
			 Integrated block 19.857 21.491 22.300 46.600 49.380 51.000 55.012 
			 Major schemes 21.987 10.700 6.902 4.805 13.875 13.325 24.4 
			 Targeted bus grants(22) 0.090 0.090 0.500 0.960 1.260 0.850 0.140 
			 Total 49.491 43.797 43.033 74.726 90.761 87.117 104.275 
		
	
	(22) Includes Rural Bus Subsidy Grant and Rural Bus Challenge funding.
	In addition, the Coventry, South constituency is benefiting from major improvements to strategic infrastructure. For example in December 2004 the Government fully approved the Quality Coventry Bus Network and has agreed to contribute 28 million to the costs of the scheme, which will make a real difference to current bus users as well as encouraging greater bus use in the city.
	The Highways Agency has a programme of work that includes the M40 junction 15 (Longbridge Roundabout) scheme. This work is due to commence in 200607. The objective of this scheme is to relieve congestion in the Coventry, South constituency area.
	The Coventry, South constituency has benefited from the 7 billion investment in the West Coast Railway Line. Also 4.2 million has been spent on railway related park and ride schemes.
	Finally, the Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at http://neighbourhood. statistics.gov.uk./. In addition, the Department for Transport's website also contains data on transport trends over the past 20 years at http://www.dft.gov.uk

Departmental Policies

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Croydon, Central, the effects of the Department's policies and actions on Croydon, Central constituency since 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department has put in place a considerable programme of improvements across a wide range of transport policy areas since 1997. I am confident that the Croydon, Central constituency will have benefited from these. For example, the injury totals for all road casualties in Great Britain fell from 327,803 in 1997 to 290,607 in 2003, and the numbers of children aged under 16 years killed or seriously injured on our roads fell from 6,452 in 1997 to 4,100 in 2003. On our railways, passenger kilometres have increased from 32.1 billion in 199697 to 40.9 billion in 200304, a rise of 27 per cent. In terms of improvements to air quality, emissions of the UK's two main pollutantsnitrous oxides and particlesfell by 31 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively between 1997 and 2002.
	Responsibility for a number of transport functions has been devolved to the Greater London Assembly and Transport for London. For example, the Mayor sets a transport strategy and provides capital funding to London boroughs to implement parts of it. Since 1997, the Croydon, Central constituency has benefited from the investment being made in new rail rolling stock, the completion of the Croydon Tramlink and will benefit from the Coulsdon Relief Road, now under construction.
	Finally, the Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk./. In addition, the Department for Transport's website also contains data on transport trends over the past 20 years at http://www.dft.gov.uk.

Emissions

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the most recent data are for levels of emissions, expressed (a) per person/km and (b) per vehicle/km, of (i) carbon monoxide, (ii) benzene, (iii) methane, (iv) other volatile organic compounds, (v) 1.3 butadiene and (vi) particulates from (A) cars and (B) powered two-wheeled vehicles in the UK.

David Jamieson: The data for 2002, the last full year for which the data are available, are given in the following table. These have been derived by taking the estimated total fleet emissions of each pollutant in tonnes per year for each vehicle class and dividing by the total passenger-kilometres and vehicle-kilometres respectively.
	
		
			  Grammes per passenger km Grammes per vehicle km 
			  Cars and taxis Powered two-wheeled vehicles Cars and taxis Powered two-wheeled vehicles 
		
		
			 Carbon monoxide 2.57 16.27 4.02 17.58 
			 Benzene 0.0062 0.0451 0.0097 0.0488 
			 Methane 0.012 0.136 0.019 0.147 
			 Other volatile organic compounds 0.248 2.225 0.387 2.403 
			 1.3 butadiene 0.0024 0.0289 0.0037 0.0313 
			 Particulates 0.012 0.098 0.019 0.106 
		
	
	Source:
	Defra/Netcen and DfT Transport Statistics.

Highway Schemes

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which highway schemes provisionally approved by his Department in the Local Transport Capital Settlements announced in (a) December 2000, (b) December 2001, (c) December 2002 and (d) December 2003 have received final approval; and what capital allocation has been provided in respect of each.

Charlotte Atkins: The following table sets out major highway schemes provisionally approved between December 2000 and December 2003. These scheme have now had final approval The table also includes capital allocation that has been provided in respect of each.
	
		
			 LTP highway scheme Allocation ( million) 
		
		
			 Barnsley Coalfields Link Road Phases 2 and 3 6.206 
			 Sheffield Northern Inner Relief Road Stages 2 and 3 55.989 
			 East Leeds Link 9.500 
			 Leeds Inner Relief Road Stage 7 50.358 
			 South Bradford Integrated Transport Scheme 11.364 
			 Carlisle Northern Development Route (23)78.812 
			 A57 Cadishead Way (Brinell Drive to City Boundary) 19.905 
			 Salford Manchester Inner Relief Road (Regent Road to Gore Street) 34.314 
			 Scotswood Road 13.200 
			 Sunderland Southern Radial Route 21.348 
			 A689 Sedgefield to Wynyard Improvement 9.349 
			 A1687 Chilton Bypass 8.364 
			 Nar Ouse Regeneration Route 7.752 
			 South Lowestoft Relief Road 29.621 
			 West Thurrock Regeneration Ring Road 5.07 
			 A13/A127-A1159 Corridors 14.5 
			 A228 Main Road to Ropers Lane Phase 1 11.860 
			 Northfield Relief Road 15.282 
			 Cradley Heath Bypass 6.769 
			 Barford Bypass 9.050 
			 Biddulph Inner Bypass 8.851 
			 Rugeley Eastern Bypass Stage 2 17.810 
			 Barnstaple Western Bypass 37.954 
			 Semington to Melksham 10.82 
			 Plymouth Northern Corridor 11.250 
			 Partney Bypass 6.305 
			 Rearsby Bypass 7.003 
			 Mansfield and Ashfield Regeneration Route 28.083 
		
	
	(23) PFI

London Underground

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much central Government funding was provided to London Underground in each financial year between 199798 and 200405 (a) at current prices and (b) at constant prices, separately identifying amounts provided for the Jubilee Line Extension.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 7 March 2005
	The following tables set out:
	(a) For the period up to July 2003, the amounts London Underground (LU) received from the London Regional Transport (LRT) grant. (Up to July 2000, when Transport for London was established, a single grant was paid to LRT to support LU, buses, river services, Croydon Tramlink, etc, and the Department's estimates do not record a separate element for LU. Between July 2000 and July 2003, the grant provided to LRT was only for LU.)
	(b) For the period since July 2003, the element of GLA transport grant the Government have identified as being for London Underground. (The GLA transport grant is paid as a single block, and it is for the Mayor to determine LU's budget).
	
		 million (cash)
		
			  London Regional Transport London Underground(24) Of which Jubilee Line extension construction 
		
		
			 199798 630 544 506 
			 199899 411 313 267 
			 19992000 816 640 478 
			 200001 315 267  
			 200102(25) 484 460  
			 200203 767 767  
			 200304(26) 867 1,218  
			 200405(27)  1,070  
		
	
	1 Source: London Underground accounts for 199798 to 200304.
	2 In 200102, LRT spent 24 million on re-structuring and re-organising LT Group.
	3 In 200304, the grant for LU was paid to LRT until July 2003 with the balance of 346 million being paid as part of the GLA Transport Grant from August 2003.
	4 The element of the GLA transport grant identified by Government for London Underground.
	
		 million(24)
		
			  London Regional Transport London Underground Of which Jubilee Line extension construction 
		
		
			 199798 730.9 631.1 587.0 
			 199899 463.4 352.9 301.0 
			 19992000 900.7 706.4 527.6 
			 200001 343.5 291.2  
			 200102 514.9 489.4  
			 200203 789.1 789.1  
			 200304 867 1,218  
			 200405  1,048.0  
		
	
	(24) Constant 200304 pricesHMT GDP Deflator

Motorcycling Strategy

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation the Government conducted with organisations or interests other than motorcycle users and manufacturers prior to publishing its recent motor cycling strategy; and what responses it received.

David Jamieson: When developing the National Motorcycling Strategy, the Government took account of the views of the Advisory Group on Motorcycling. This Group represented motorcycling interests, motoring organisations, local government and the police.
	The Strategy is a framework for motorcycling to become fully recognised as a mode of transport. It embraces a whole range of actions both for government and non-government organisations to pursue in order for this mainstreaming of motorcycling to be successfully achieved. Consultation with both motorcycling interests and other affected parties will take place, where necessary, as these specific actions are taken forwards.

Motorway Speed Limits

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under whose authority temporary speed limits on motorways are imposed when roadworks are taking place; and what criteria are used to decide the level of the speed limit.

David Jamieson: holding answer 8 March 2005
	Temporary speed limits are imposed by means of an Order made, or a Notice issued, by the Secretary of State under the provisions of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 as amended by the Road Traffic (Temporary Restrictions) Act 1991.
	The criteria for deciding the level of the speed limit are set out in the Highways Agency's Interim Advice Note 57/04, a copy of which has been placed in the House Library.

Motorway Speed Limits

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons a temporary speed limit of 40 mph was in place on the M1 motorway on the northbound carriageway south of junction 5 on 24 February; for what reasons the speed limit was set at 40 mph; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: holding answer 8 March 2005
	On 24 February, a mandatory 40 mph speed limit was in place on the Ml Motorway between Junctions 4 and 5 on both the north and southbound carriageways to protect both drivers and the workforce during road works. This had been agreed with the police.
	The police set an advisory 40 mph speed limit, using the signals in the central reserve, north of the works, following a minor road traffic accident in lane 3 at 1745 hours. This was for the safety of drivers and those dealing with the incident.

Pilots (Security Clearance)

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to have an appeals system in place to review the removal of pilots' security clearance.

Charlotte Atkins: I expect the new procedure to be in place in the next few weeks.

School Buses

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to provide capital funding to local authorities for school bus schemes using accessible low floor buses fitted with satellite tracking equipment to provide services to primary schools.

Charlotte Atkins: We know that well-designed school bus schemes have the potential to reduce car dependency for journeys to school and the traffic congestion that results from this.
	The Department does, from time-to-time, receive applications from local authorities for the funding of school buses as a major schemes under the Local Transport Plan process. Each of these is considered on its merits, taking account of value for money, regional priorities and affordability. It is for the authorities to determine the precise nature of the bid based on local needs, but the Department would insist that for future schemes vehicles must be DDA compliant.

Snow Ploughs

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many snow ploughs and other snow-moving vehicles are operated by each local authority in England.

Charlotte Atkins: holding answer 8 March 2005
	This information is not collated centrally by the Department for Transport.
	The Department strongly recommends that local authorities provide a winter service, including snow ploughing, in accordance with the Code of Practice for Maintenance Management Delivering Best Value in Highway Maintenance published in 2001 by the Institution of Highways and Transportation. This recommends that local highway authorities consult road users on a winter operational plan on an annual basis, and publish and implement it. This plan will inform deliberations on the numbers of specialised winter maintenance vehicles required.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to reduce congestion on the inter-urban trunk road network below 2000 levels will be met by 2010;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to reduce congestion in large urban areas in England below 2000 levels will be met by 2010.

David Jamieson: The Commission for Integrated Transport and the Select Committee on Transport, Local Government and the Regions criticised the congestion PSA targets set in 2000 on the grounds that they did not relate to specific roads and were not meaningful to road users, since they did not capture important aspects of road users experience such as journey time reliability. In the light of these concerns the Government announced in the White Paper The Future of Transport (July 2004) that it was replacing the previous targets with new ones, to be published in July 2005. In the Transport 10-Year Plan 2000: Delivering better transportprogress report (December 2002) the Government said that congestion forecasts were higher than previously, largely due to higher economic growth. The report went on to say that although the measures set out in the 10-Year Plan will deliver significant reductions in projected levels of congestion, these may not be sufficient to secure a return to 2000 levels.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to secure improvements in rail punctuality will be met by 2010.

Tony McNulty: An assessment of progress for all the Department's current public service agreement targets was published in December 2004 in our Autumn Performance Reportcopies of which were placed in the House of Commons Library.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to improve the punctuality and reliability of rail services to at least 85 per cent. by 2006 will be met.

Tony McNulty: This new public service agreement (PSA) target comes into effect in April 2005.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to increase rail use in Great Britain by 50 per cent. from 2000 levels will be met by 2010.

Tony McNulty: An assessment of progress for all the Department's current public service agreement targets was published in December 2004 in our Annual Performance Reportcopies of which were placed in the House of Commons Library.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents by 40 per cent. compared with the average for 1994 to 1998 will be met by 2010.

David Jamieson: We are making good progress. Provisional data for the third quarter of 2004 (to end September 2004) has been published and shows continuing overall progress and trends with killed and seriously injured casualties showing a 26 per cent. reduction against the 199498 baseline.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to reduce the number of children killed or seriously injured in road accidents by 50 per cent. compared with the average for 1994 to 1998 will be met by 2010.

David Jamieson: Provisional data for the second quarter of 2004 (to end June 2004) shows that we are making excellent progress. By the end of June 2004, child deaths or serious injuries were down 40 per cent. from their baseline; over three-quarters of the way towards our 50 per cent. target.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made towards achieving the public service agreement target to reduce the significantly higher incidence within disadvantaged communities of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents.

David Jamieson: The target is to secure a greater reduction in the overall number of road casualties in the 88 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund Areas in England designated by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, than for England as a whole, comparing the figure for 2005 with the baseline for 1999 to 2001. Latest data for 2003 show there has been a greater reduction, since the baseline, in the number of road accident casualties in disadvantaged districts than in England as a whole (10.6 per cent. reduction in deprived districts compared with 9.0 per cent. nationwide).

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made towards achieving the public service agreement target to improve air quality by meeting the National Air Quality strategy objectives for carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, particles, sulphur dioxide, benzene and 1,3-butadiene.

David Jamieson: Preliminary results show that, last year, we met the four Air Quality Strategy objectives in the public service agreement target for carbon monoxide, benzene, 1.3-butadiene and lead. Objectives for particles and sulphur dioxide, due to be met last year, have not yet been achieved in every part of the country.
	Modelling shows that more work will be needed if we are to meet future objectives for nitrogen dioxide and particles in all parts of the country. We are reviewing the Air Quality Strategy and the Climate Change Programme to see what more can be done to make faster progress. At the same time, we are taking forward initiatives announced in the Future of Transport White Paper. These include working with our European partners to develop tighter standards for both vehicles and fuels, and ensuring that local authorities' Air Quality Action Plans are integrated into their Local Transport Plans in areas where transport has a significant impact on local air quality.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010 will be met.

David Jamieson: Recent assessments are that the Government will meet their target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. on base year levels by 2010. Indeed, they expect to do considerably better. The UK is currently on track to achieve a 21 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2010, thereby achieving more the target by 17 MtC.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made towards achieving the public service agreement target of moving towards a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions below 1990 levels by 2010.

David Jamieson: Recent progress on policies and other programmes to reduce emissions from carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from the transport sector and other sectors was published in Review of the UK Climate Change Programme: consultation paper on 8 December 2004.
	Examples of measures which have led to reductions in carbon emissions from the transport sector include the Government's support for low carbon vehicles and fuels through fiscal and other incentives and support for research, development and demonstration programmes such as the New Vehicle Technology Fund. Policy measures in the transport sector alone are forecast to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by some 4.4 million tonnes of carbon a year by 2010.
	The Government expect that, as a result of their policies, carbon dioxide emissions will fall. In 2003, they are estimated to have been about 7 per cent. below 1990 levels. By 2010, they are forecast to be 14 per cent. below 1990 levels based on current projections. This figure includes only the estimated emission reductions gained from measures that are firm and funded. It does not include, for example, measures that may happen but are not yet finalised, such as a possible further round of voluntary agreements on average new car fuel efficiency between the European Commission and the automotive industry after the current agreements expire in 2008.

Thameslink

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will make a decision on whether to reopen the inquiry into Thameslink 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Planning Inspectorate announced in letters sent to interested parties on 6 January 2005 that the inquiry into the Thameslink 2000 scheme is to be re-opened. The re-opened inquiry will consider all the applications relating to the scheme that are now before the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Transport for determination. I understand that no date has yet been fixed for the inquiry to re-open, but that this is unlikely to be until late summer. I will ensure that my hon. Friend is notified once a date has been settled.

Traffic Wardens

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the present position is concerning the new code of conduct for traffic wardens; at what intervals he plans to revise the code; what provisions are in place to allow members of the public to make representations concerning the code; if he will re-publish the code each time it is revised; and if he will make a statement.

Charlotte Atkins: holding answer 2 March 2005
	We are working on the statutory guidance for local authorities, in connection with their enforcement of traffic contraventions, as authorised by the Traffic Management Act 2004. This will include public consultation on the provisions of the guidance.

Trip Survey

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average (a) number and (b) distance of trips as calculated by the National Travel Survey was by (i) car driver, (ii) car passenger, (iii) bus, (iv) walking and (v) other modes of transport broken down by (A) commuting, (B) business, (C) education, (D) escort education, (E) shopping and (F) other reasons, broken down by (1) sex and (2) those (v) under 17-years, (w) 17 to 29 years, (x) 30 to 49 years, (y) 50 to 59 years and (z) over 60-years in the latest three-year period for which survey results are available.

Charlotte Atkins: The information for 200203 has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The two year aggregate for 200203 provides a larger sample size than the previous three year aggregates because of an increase in sample size from 2002.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Poverty

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children in each London borough have been reported to be living in poverty in each year since 1995.

Chris Pond: Our first step towards eradicating child poverty as set out in our current Public Service Agreement target is to reduce the number of children in low-income households by a quarter by 200405. This is measured using the proportion of children in relative low income households. Specific information regarding low income for the United Kingdom is available in Households Below Average Income 199495 to 200203. Data are not available below the regional level and are only available as proportions at the regional level. It should be noted that the reporting of year-on-year changes in the regional low-income rates are not reliable. 'Measuring child poverty', published in December 2003, outlines the Government's measure of UK child poverty for the long term. The measure will consist of three tiers; absolute low income, relative low income and material deprivation and low income combined. The Government will set a target as part of the 2006 SR06 Spending Review to halve by 201011 the numbers of children suffering a combination of material deprivation and relative low income. Data will not be available below the regional level.
	Households below average income 199798 to 200203 and Measuring Child Poverty are available in the Library.

Child Support Agency

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what provision is available to support a claimant whilst a re-evaluation of Child Support Agency payments is taking place.

Chris Pond: Within the Child Support legislation, there is no provision available to a claimant while a re-evaluation of Child Support payments is being made.
	Non-resident parents are responsible for continuing regular payments while their liability is being re-calculated. If the non resident parent does not pay whilst their liability is being re-calculated, any moneys not paid will be added to the arrears balance.

Council Tax Benefit

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) people, (b) pensioners and (c) people aged 65 years or over in England receive 100 per cent. council tax benefit.

Chris Pond: The available information is in the table.
	
		Council tax benefit beneficiaries with full benefit, by age, in England: May 2003
		
			  (25)Council tax benefit beneficiaries 
		
		
			 All 3,629,000 
			 60 and over 1,623,000 
			 65 and over 1,319,000 
		
	
	(25) Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.
	Notes:
	The figures are subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	2. Beneficiaries are all claimants and partners in the relevant category.
	3. Council tax benefit cases exclude any second adult rebate cases.
	Source:
	Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 2003.

Departmental Expenditure

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much of his Department's annual expenditure was spent on (a) pensioners, (b) the sick and disabled, (c) the unemployed, (d) lone parents and (e) other types of claimants in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what percentage of total benefit expenditure went to those whose primary income was from (a) pensions, (b) sick and disabled persons' benefits, (c) unemployment benefits, (d) lone parent benefits and (e) benefits in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Pond: holding answer 4 March 2005
	The available information is in the table. It is not possible to allocate expenditure according to whether the benefit income represented the recipient's primary source of income, so expenditure has been assigned according to the principal benefits received.
	
		
			  Benefit expenditure(26) 
			  Cash terms Real terms 200405 prices Percentage of benefit expenditure Percentage of gross domestic product 
		
		
			 199798 
			 Pensioner benefits 43,426 51,391 46.5 5.3 
			 Sick and disabled benefits 23,868 28,246 25.6 2.9 
			 Unemployment benefits 5,927 7,014 6.3 0.7 
			 Lone parent benefits 8,247 9,760 8.8 1.0 
			 All other benefits 11,874 14,051 12.7 1.4 
			 Total benefits 93,342 110,464 100.0 11.3 
			  
			 200304 
			 Pensioner benefits 60,354 61,644 57.2 5.4 
			 Sick and disabled benefits 29,751 30,387 28.2 2.7 
			 Unemployment benefits 3,781 3,862 3.6 0.3 
			 Lone parent benefits 7,998 8,169 7.6 0.7 
			 All other benefits 3,676 3,754 3.5 0.3 
			 Total benefits 105,559 107,816 100.0 9.5 
		
	
	(26) All figures have been rounded to the nearest  million.
	Notes:
	1. Figures may not sum due to rounding
	2. Expenditure figures quoted for 199798 are outturn and those quoted for 200304 are estimated outturn.
	3. The following benefits are split between more than one client group:
	Bereavement benefits; incapacity benefit; severe disablement allowance; income support; housing benefit; council tax benefit; family credit.
	4. Pensioner benefits include retirement pension (contributory and non contributory), bereavement benefits, Christmas bonus (contributory), incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance, winter fuel payment, over 70s payment, over 80s payment, over 75 TV licence, pensions compensation board, income support, pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit.
	5. Sick and disabled benefits include attendance allowance, disability living allowance, industrial injuries benefits, invalid care allowance/carer's allowance, motability/specialised vehicles fund, vaccine damage payments, war disablement pensions, incapacity benefit, statutory sick pay, severe disablement allowance, disability working allowance, income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit.
	6. Unemployment benefits include unemployment benefit/jobseeker's allowance (contributory and income based), housing benefit and council tax benefit.
	7. Lone parent benefits include family credit, income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit.
	8. All others benefits include child benefit, guardian's allowance, child's special allowance, bereavement benefits, maternity allowance, statutory maternity pay, non contributory Christmas bonus, new deal allowances and credits, job grant, war widows pensions, earnings top up, social fund, family credit, income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit.
	9. Comparisons between years are affected by transfers of responsibilities between Departments, in particular family credit being replaced by working families tax credit in 1999, war pensions transferring to the Veterans Agency in 2002 and child benefit being transferred to the Inland Revenue in 2003.
	Source:
	DWP expenditure tables (1 and 7) published on the internet at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure.asp. All figures are consistent with the pre-Budget report (2 December 2004).

Job Centres

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost has been of refurbishing jobcentres at (a) Blandford, (b) Bridport, (c) Christchurch, (d) Poole and (e) Wareham in the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 9 March 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the cost of refurbishing the Jobcentres in Blandford, Bridport, Christchurch, Poole and Wareham in the last three years. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	During this time, Blandford, Bridport, Christchurch and Wareham were refurbished to meet the corporate Jobcentre Plus vision. As Poole was relocated to a new site, new build costs were incurred.
	Information on costs incurred is in the table.
	
		
		
			 Jobcentre plus office Cost 
		
		
			 Blandford 287,000 
			 Bridport 300,000 
			 Christchurch 320,000 
			 Poole 343,000 
			 Wareham 242,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information is for the period October 2002 to July 2004 when costs were incurred.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus South West Regional Office
	I hope this information is helpful.

Job Centres

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many work-focused benefit interviews were carried out at jobcentres in (a) Blandford, (b) Bridport, (c) Christchurch, (d) Poole and (e) Wareham in the last month for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 9 March 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of work-focused benefit interviews carried out at Jobcentres in Blandford, Bridport, Christchurch, Poole and Wareham in the last month for which figures are available. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The information is in the table.
	
		
			 Jobcentre plus office Number of interviews 
		
		
			 Blandford 90 
			 Bridport 100 
			 Christchurch 140 
			 Poole 540 
			 Wareham 90 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are for January 2005.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus Customer Management System
	I hope this information is helpful.

Jobseekers

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what restrictions his Department places on the jobs which may be offered to jobseekers which raise issues of conscience for those taking them up.

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Tim Boswell, dated 9 March 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question regarding the restrictions this Department places on jobs which may be offered to jobseekers which raise issues of conscience for those taking them up. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus
	It is our policy to accept vacancies across a wide range of occupations, on the understanding that they are fully compliant with UK employment legislation and civil law. We do not seek to restrict the advertising of vacancies where the work involved may raise an issue of conscience, but where the employment is lawful.
	Under the Employment and Training Act 1973 we have to provide a service to both employers and to people seeking employment. We must, therefore, have strong reasons for refusing an employer access to our services.
	Some vacancies advertised by Jobcentre Plus include statements which, due to the nature of work or the employer's circumstances, jobseekers are not obliged to apply for. These include vacancies in the adult entertainment, sex and related industries and/or involving nudity, and vacancies from employers where industrial action is taking place.
	Whilst the payment of Jobseekers Allowance is intended to provide a safety net of a minimum level of income for those between jobs, unemployment must not be voluntary. Sanctions therefore underpin the benefit system.
	Safeguards in the Jobseeker's Allowance regulations mean that individuals who display good cause for refusing employment would not be sanctioned and lose benefit. Jobseeker's Allowance regulations specify that a person is considered to have good cause where, amongst other reasons, they have a sincerely held religious or conscientious objection.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Maternity Provision

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Government has to increase the rate of (a) statutory maternity pay and (b) maternity allowance.

Chris Pond: The standard rate of Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance will be increased from 102.80 to 106 a week from April 2005 as part of the annual uprating process.
	The Government's aim is to give all children the best start in life and to give parents more choice about how to balance their work and family life. As part of this the Government have undertaken to extend the payment period of Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance from 26 weeks to 39 weeks from April 2007.
	The Government recognise that whether parents can afford to take time off is crucial to their decisions about how much leave from work they can take. Therefore we are asking in our consultation document Work and Families, Choice and Flexibility, issued by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 28 February, what the guiding principles should be for setting the level of flat rate payments.

New Deal for Disabled People

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to inform employers about the new deal for disabled people; and how it assesses the success of measures to publicise the programme to employers.

Jane Kennedy: As part of its range of new deal promotional materials, the Department provides a leaflet for employers about the new deal for disabled people (NDDP), which is used by Jobcentre Plus in working locally with employers. It includes case studies of and for employers and can also be used by NDDP Job Brokers as a marketing tool. The NDDP News Magazine, which is published on a quarterly basis and has a circulation of 10,000 to 15,000, also includes positive features on employers' experiences of employing people who have found a job through NDDP and is frequently requested by Job Brokers for use in their promotional activities.
	The main emphasis in promoting NDDP to employers lies with individual Job Brokers. Job Broker services vary and are focused on customers' requirements and the needs of the local labour market. Their marketing activities are also tailored to need, and are most likely to be primarily directed towards potential customers. Job Brokers can work directly with an employer but will only do so with the agreement of the customer concerned.
	A key indicator of success is in the programme's achievement of job entries. Up to September 2004, over 46,000 people had gained a job through NDDP since the programme began in 2001. The Department has in place a comprehensive research programme for NDDP, designed to establish the experiences and views of the range of stakeholders, including Job Brokers, customers and employers, among others. This does not directly assess the success of Job Brokers' measures to publicise the programme, but emerging findings show that employers are broadly aware of the new deal and, although less so of NDDP specifically, they are aware of Job Broker organisations in their area, where Job Brokers often advertise under their own name for their NDDP service.

Social Security Advisory Committee

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library copies of past advice on tax that he has received from the Social Security Advisory Committee.

Chris Pond: The Social Security Advisory Committee do not give advice on tax to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Diabetes (Public Service Recruits)

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures have been put in place by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service to medically assess people with diabetes who apply to become paramedics.

Angela Smith: All applicants to join the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Services Trust who have been successful at interview must undergo a pre-employment medical check by Belfast City Hospital's Occupational Health Unit, which advises the Trust about applicants' fitness for the work.

Diabetes (Public Service Recruits)

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures have been put in place by the Fire Service of Northern Ireland to medically assess people with diabetes who apply to become firefighters.

Angela Smith: All applicants who apply to join the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade as firefighters undergo the same medical assessment, regardless of any underlying medical condition. An occupational health doctor and nurse conduct the assessment, an accredited specialist in occupational medicine reviews the results and, if necessary, further information is requested from the applicant's general practitioner or specialist in the applicant's particular medical condition.

Alzheimer's Disease

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of (a) donepezil, (b) rivastigmine and (c) galantamine in treating Alzheimer's sufferers in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: No departmental assessment has been undertaken on the effectiveness of (a) donepezil (b) rivastigmine (c) galantamine in treating Alzheimer's sufferers in Northern Ireland. At present, clinicians prescribe these medicines, taking into account evidence of best practice and the clinical circumstances of the individual patient.
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently undergoing a consultation on recommendations for the prescribing of the medicines. While NICE guidance only applies to England and Wales, following publication of the final appraisal determination on use of these medicines, the Department may consider its relevance to Northern Ireland.

Ards Borough (Planning)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the impact that the number of site meetings being requested by Ards borough council is having on the planning process in the Ards borough area.

Angela Smith: Managing and attending site meetings involves a significant proportion of a senior planning officer's time and inevitably has an effect on the time taken to process all planning applications. It appears that the meetings are often requested as a matter of routine and the Planning Service questions the value of many of these site meetings. Furthermore, I am advised that when an opinion is revised, it is usually due to receipt of additional information or amendments to the proposal to meet the Planning Service's requirements.

Belfast Regeneration Office

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent by the Belfast Regeneration Office in each year since it was set up; and how much has been spent by each team set up by the Belfast Regeneration Office in each year since its formation.

John Spellar: Belfast Regeneration Office (BRO) was set up in 1998. Table 1 details the amount of money spent by BRO, through its three main funding streams, namely: Action Plan, Making Belfast Work (Area Teams); and Physical, since its formation. Table 2 provides information on that money spent by each of the four BRO Area Teams.
	
		Table 1
		
			  Amount () 
		
		
			 199899 9,058,855.70 
			 19992000 11,853,374.00 
			 200001 11,659,640.70 
			 200102 9,400,302.85 
			 200203 6,380,416.67 
			 200304 4,628,157.86 
			 200405 (to date) 2,876,351.88 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Amount spent by Belfast regeneration office area teams since the formation of BRO in 1998
		
			  
			 Team Inner West Outer West North South East 
		
		
			 199899 1,725,653.00 635,682.50 1,541,860.00 834,786.10 461,385.20 
			 19992000 2,693,795.00 699,131.10 1,515,760.00 898,035.80 1,073,967.00 
			 200001 2,814,153.00 190,457.60 1,768,866.00 1,040,845.00 635,338.50 
			 200102 1,852,426.19 934,390.85 1,457,436.49 986,869.42 (27) 
			 200203 933,695.36 622,890.38 278,485.81 392,773.17 (27) 
			 200304 1,053,151.79 437,007.33 927,244.38 646,865.46 (27) 
			 200405 (to date) 607,218.57 508,231.47 412,553.94 461,464.75 (27) 
		
	
	(27) BRO South Team amalgamated with BRO East Team on 2002.

Contaminated Land (Carrickfergus)

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is on underwriting the value of residents' property if contamination is found on lands in the Brackenridge area of Carrickfergus.

Angela Smith: Where land is found to be contaminated and this results in harm or the possibility of harm arising from the condition of that land, steps will be taken to determine the responsibility for its remediation. It is too early to say what the investigation in relation to the Brackenridge area may show, or what action, if any, may be required.

Cookstown Police Station

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria were used to determine the siting of the new police station in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone.

Ian Pearson: The proposed new build station at Cookstown will be located adjacent to the existing PSNI station at Molesworth Street, Cookstown. The choice of this location was determined by Local Police Command at Cookstown taking into account a range of operational policing factors, including the ability to provide a centralised reporting centre for the Cookstown public, location of the station relative to commercial and residential developments, transport infrastructure considerations, security considerations and the ability to deliver community policing within the Cookstown DCU. The existing station has occupied that site for many years and the creation of the new establishment will maintain continuity.

Domestic Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to change the system of domestic rates in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Government are planning to introduce a discrete capital value domestic rating system from 1 April 2007. A policy paper was published in July 2004 seeking views on this and other key reforms, including the proposal for a rate relief scheme, transitional arrangements, an independent valuation tribunal and revaluations at least every five years. Consultation concluded on 12 November 2004. A report outlining the views expressed and the Government's final policy position will be issued shortly.

Fishing

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans the Government have to reintroduce social security payments to fishermen who are unable to go to sea in Northern Ireland; how many fishermen benefited from these benefits in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: Social security payments are available to share fishermen who satisfy the conditions of entitlement. Fishermen who are paid employees are treated in the same way as other paid employees who claim benefits.
	Share fishermen pay a special higher rate of Class 2 National Insurance contributions which gives them access to contribution-based jobseeker's allowance. Contribution-based jobseeker's allowance has special rules which are specifically designed to provide share fishermen with the necessary financial support for those periods when they are unable to fish because of factors such as bad weather or because their boat is undergoing repairs.
	Share fishermen are also eligible to claim income-based jobseeker's allowance. In common with other self employed people their average earnings will be taken into account in assessing their entitlement.
	The Government have no plans to change these rules.
	Separate statistics are not collected on claims to social security benefits by fishermen. Therefore, it is not possible to say how many fishermen have received benefits in the last three years.

Housing Association Accounts

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for each financial year since 200102 the dates on which each housing association in Belfast was required to submit annual accounts for inspection; on what dates these accounts were received in each case; and what reason was given in each case where the delay was in excess of three months.

John Spellar: Only those housing associations registered with the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland are required to submit their annual accounts for inspection by the Department.
	Article 19 of the Housing (NI) Order 1992 requires a registered housing association to furnish to the Department a copy of its accounts within six months of the end of the period to which they relate. The information requested is attached in respect of the 39 associations registered with the Department.
	
		
			 Name of association Accounting period Date due Date received Reason given 
		
		
			 Abbeyfield UK (NI) Ltd. 200102 31 March 2002 11 April 2002  
			  200203 30 March 2003 16 October 2003 No explanation 
			  200304 30 March 2004 16 March 2004  
			 Abode Housing Association 200102 31 July 2002 27 August 2002 Association changed its financial year end from 31 January 2003 to 31 March 2003 
			  200203 30 September 2003 18 August 2003  
			  200304 30 September 2004 22 June 2004  
			 Ark Housing Association (NI) Ltd. 200102 30 September 2002 Unknown  
			  200203 30 September 2003 8 October 2003  
			  200304 30 September 2004 13 August 2004  
			 Ballynafeigh Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 5 September 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 3 July 2003  
			  200404 30 June 2004 11 October 2004 Late receipt from auditor 
			 Belfast Community Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 5 May 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 25 June 2003  
			  200304 30 June 2004 6 April 2004  
			 BIH Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 September 2002 Unknown  
			  200203 30 September 2003 1 July 2003  
			  200304 30 September 2004 16 August 2004  
			 Broadway Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 27 March 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 30 June 2003  
			  200304 30 June 2004 7 July 2004  
			 Choice Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 September 2002 27 June 2002  
			  200203 30 September 2003 8 July 2003  
			  200304 30 September 2004 9 August 2004  
			 Clanmil Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 September 2002 14 June 2002  
			  200203 30 September 2003 18 June 2003  
			  200304 30 September 2004 21 June 2004  
			 Clonard Housing Association Ltd. 200102 31 July 2002 15 August 2002  
			  200203 31 July 2003 19 August 2003  
			  200304 31 July 2004 7 May 2004  
			 Connswater Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 September 2002 26 June 2002  
			  200203 30 September 2003 25 June 2003  
			  200304 30 September 2004 1 July 2004  
			 Coral Crescent Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 21 August 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 7 July 2003  
			  200304 30 June 2004 27 November 2004  
			 Corinthian Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 29 May 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 10 March 2003  
			  200304 30 June 2004 25 June 2004  
			 Covenanter Residential Association Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 2 May 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 27 March 2003  
			  200304 30 June 2004 15 April 2004  
			 Craigowen Hosuing Association Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 29 August 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 21 October 2003 No explanation on record 
			  200304 30 June 2004 13 August 2004  
			 Donacloney Housing Association Ltd 200102 30 June 2002 5 August 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 18 August 2003  
			  200304 30 June 2004 23 April 2004  
			 Dungannon and District Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 September 2002 3 June 2003 No explanation on record 
			  200203 30 September 2003 7 July 2003  
			  200304 30 September 2004 29 September 2004  
			 Filor Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 7 August 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 26 June 2003  
			  200304 30 June 2004 22 June 2004  
			 Flax Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 6 August 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 15 October 2003 Due to oversight 
			  200304 30 June 2004 17 May 2004  
			 Fold Housing Association Ltd 200102 30 September 2002 2 July 2002  
			  200203 30 September 2003 30 June 2003  
			  200304 30 September 2004 25 June 2004  
			 Gosford Housing Association (Armagh) Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 1 July 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 30 May 2003  
			  200304 30 June 2004 Unknown  
			 Grove Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 1 August 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 3 July 2003  
			  200304 30 June 2004 28 June 2004  
			 Habiniteg Housing Association (Ulster) Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 27 March 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 9 April 2003  
			  200304 30 June 2004 11 May 2004  
			 Hearth Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 23 August 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 30 June 2003  
			  200304 30 June 2004 28 June 2004  
			 Larne and District Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 September 2002 1 August 2002  
			  200203 30 September 2003 23 August 2003  
			  200304 30 September 2004 27 July 2004  
			 Newington Housing Association (1975) Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 3 April 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 27 March 2003  
			  200304 30 June 2004 30 March 2004  
			 Northern Ireland Co-Ownership Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 1 July 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 30 June 2003  
			  200304 30 June 2004 7 July 2004  
			 North and West Housing Ltd. 200102 30 September 2002 9 August 2002  
			  200203 30 September 2003 6 October 2003  
			  200304 30 September 2004 12 October 2004  
			 Oaklee Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 September 2002 3 June 2002  
			  200203 30 September 2003 13 October 2003  
			  200304 30 September 2004 24 June 2004  
			 Open Door Housing Association (Northern Ireland) Ltd. 200102 30 September 2002 2 November 2002  
			  200203 30 September 2003 3 July 2003  
			  200304 30 September 2004 30 September 2004  
			 Presbyterian Housing Association (NI) Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 23 May 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 30 June 2003  
			  200304 30 June 2004 5 April 2004  
			 Rural Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 September 2002 29 July 2002  
			  200203 30 September 2003 24 September 2003  
			  200304 30 September 2004 26 July 2004  
			 SHAC Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 2 August 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 30 June 2003  
			  200304 30 September 2004 8 July 2004  
			 South Ulster Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 20 June 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 25 June 2003  
			  200304 30 September 2004 1 July 2004  
			 St. Matthews Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 July 2002 14 August 2002  
			  200203 30 July 2003 30 July 2003  
			  200304 30 July 2004 12 August 2004  
			 Triangle Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 September 2002 12 August 2002  
			  200203 30 September 2003 10 October 2003  
			  200304 30 September 2004 1 July 2004  
			 Ulidia Housing Association Ltd. 200102 31 July 2002 15 May 2002 Association changed its financial year end from 31 January 2004 to 31 March 2004 
			  200203 31 July 2003 5 June 2003  
			  200304 30 September 2004 25 August 2004  
			 Wesley Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 2 August 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 30 June 2003  
			  200304 30 June 2004 30 June 2004  
			 Woodvale and Shankill Housing Association Ltd. 200102 30 June 2002 31 July 2002  
			  200203 30 June 2003 10 June 2003  
			  200304 30 June 2004 12 August 2004

Medical Negligence

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) deaths and (b) disabilities resulted from medical negligence in the Province in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Smith: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Provisional IRA

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his most recent estimate is of the total value of proceeds received by the Provisional IRA from robberies in the Province since 1998.

Ian Pearson: The Independent Monitoring Commission's fourth report provided a clear assessment of the Provisional IRA's involvement in several major robberies in Northern Ireland recently. Estimates of the value of proceeds received by PIRA from robberies since 1998 however is available only from intelligence sources and it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment.

Provisional IRA

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his most recent estimate is of the scale of intellectual property crime in the Province by the Provisional IRA concerning (a) pirate DVDs, CDs and software, (b) counterfeit branded goods, (c) washing powder, toiletries, perfumes and clothing and (d) veterinary drugs and medicines.

Ian Pearson: The Organised Crime Task Force has carried out detailed analysis of the scale of paramilitary involvement in counterfeiting and piracy and its assessment is that paramilitary gangs carry out 80 per cent. of organised intellectual property crime in Northern Ireland, with loyalist and republican gangs equally heavily involved. The Independent Monitoring Commission's report of 4 November 2004 also highlights paramilitary involvement in this form of criminality.
	In 2004 the Police Service of Northern Ireland seized over 6 million of counterfeit goods across Northern Ireland. I pay tribute to the PSNI for their on-going efforts to combat organised criminals who seek to line their pockets from the sale of illicit goods. In addition, since 2003 joint operations between the PSNI and An Garda S-ochana have resulted in seizures worth 12 million.

Provisional IRA

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of connections between the Provisional IRA and criminal syndicates in (a) the British Isles and (b) Eastern Europe; and what estimate he has made of the scale of financial benefit the organisation has received from such activities.

Ian Pearson: This year's Organised Crime Task Force Threat Assessment, launched in May 2004, clearly indicated that 85 Northern Ireland based organised crime gangs have international links.
	The Independent Monitoring Commission's report of November 2004 also highlighted the links between organised criminals in Northern Ireland and criminal syndicates in Asia, North America, Africa and European countries.
	Our assessment is that the Provisional IRA is engaged in serious and organised crime including large-scale smuggling and counterfeiting operations.
	An estimate of the scale of financial benefit to PIRA from such links and activities is a matter of intelligence and it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment.

Provisional IRA

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his most recent assessment is of the scale of ownership and influence over pubs, clubs and hotels by the Provisional IRA in the Province.

Ian Pearson: Information concerning PIRA's ownership and influence over pubs, clubs and hotels in Northern Ireland is available only from intelligence sources and it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment.

Provisional IRA

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his most recent assessment is of the scale of investment in property and business by the Provisional IRA in the Province.

Ian Pearson: Information concerning the scale of investment in property and business in Northern Ireland by the Provisional IRA is available only from intelligence sources and it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment.

Provisional IRA

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his most recent assessment is of the scale of mortgage application fraud by the Provisional IRA in the Province.

Ian Pearson: Information concerning the scale of mortgage application fraud by the Provisional IRA in Northern Ireland is available only from intelligence sources and it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment.

Social Workers

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of individuals commencing work as social workers in each of the last five years in Northern Ireland graduated with (a) social work and (b) other degrees.

Angela Smith: The information requested is as follows.
	(a) The degree in social work, which replaced the Diploma in Social Work (DipSW) as the professional social work qualification, had its first intake of students in Northern Ireland in September 2004. There are, therefore no social workers in the Northern Ireland social work work force holding this qualification as yet.
	(b) Information on other degrees held by social workers is not collected centrally as this is not a requirement for employment as a social worker.

Social Workers

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many social workers within the Province have completed degree courses; and how many individuals commence training in social work in the Province in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The Degree in Social Work, which recently replaced the Diploma in Social Work (DipSW) as the professional social work qualification, had its first intake of students in Northern Ireland in September 2004. There are, therefore, no social workers in the Northern Ireland social work workforce holding this qualification as yet.
	No information is held centrally on other degrees held by social workers. This is not a requirement for employment as a social worker.
	The Northern Ireland Social Care Council has advised that over the last five years the numbers of new students commencing training for social work in Northern Ireland are as shown in the following tables.
	
		Diploma in Social Work (DipSW): Student intake
		
			 Academic year Postgraduate route(28) Undergraduate route(29) Non-graduate route(30) Employment based route(31) Total 
		
		
			 200001 87 25 40 78 230 
			 200102 87 24 36 125 272 
			 200203 88 29 31 99 247 
			 200304 (Final intake) 82 29 40 115 266 
		
	
	l Postgraduate route leading to the award of DipSW (and a Master's Degree).
	(28) Undergraduate route leading to the award of DipSW (and a Bachelor's Degree).
	(29) Non-graduate route leading to the award of DipSW (and a Diploma in Higher Education).
	(30) These are students seconded from employment, including from 2001, new trainee schemes.
	
		Degree in Social Work: Student intake
		
			  Academic year 200405 (First intake) 
		
		
			 Relevant Graduate Route(31) 102 
			 Undergraduate Route 172 
			 Total(32) 274 
		
	
	(31) Those students who have a previous relevant degree can complete the degree in 2 years.
	(32) Total includes students employed as Regional Social Work Degree Trainees by HSS Trusts and Voluntary Sector employers.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Abdelbaset Megrahi

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Libyan Government regarding the transfer of Mr. Abdelbaset Megrahi from Barlinnie Prison to Greenock Prison.

Chris Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary wrote to the Libyan Foreign Minister, Mr. Abdul Rahman Shalgam, on 14 January informing him of our intention to transfer Mr. Al Megrahi from HM Prison Barlinnie to HM Prison Greenock. This decision was taken by the Scottish Prison Service on humanitarian grounds. United Nations monitors agreed that Mr. Al Megrahi's continued solitary confinement at Barlinnie was harmful to his health and well-being. Mr. Al Megrahi was transferred to Greenock on 24 February. Libyan consular officials saw Mr. Al Megrahi on the same day. We understand a follow-up visit will be made shortly.

Africa (Departmental Groups)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding has been allocated to support his Department's Africa research team in each of the last 10 years; and how many members of staff were employed in it in each year.

Jack Straw: Records are only available for the last nine financial years including the current year. Allocations for and numbers of staff in the Africa Research Group for these periods were as follows:
	
		
			  Number of staff Total running costs () 
		
		
			 199697 8 24,409.88 
			 199798 8 19,576.77 
			 199899 8 31,528.98 
			 19992000 8 35,751.57 
			 200001 9 79,197.63 
			 200102 9 58,640.25 
			 200203 9 65,556.48 
			 200304 9 52,057.32 
			 200405 9 21,604.87 
		
	
	Financial information for the current year is incomplete at this stage.
	Running costs exclude salaries and related costs but include official travel, office equipment and stationery, library expenditure, IT maintenance and official entertainment. Travel costs for research visits were the largest element in each year. The increase from 200001 reflected the arrival of additional analytical staff to cover French speaking West Africa (in the context of Franco-British co-operation on Africa). Additional funding was allocated in 2000 for IT upgrades and a major look ahead seminar Africa 2020.

Brazil

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Government of Brazil regarding (a) extrajudicial killings of Brazilian street children and (b) commercial sexual exploitation of Brazilian children.

Bill Rammell: We have made clear to the Government of Brazil, bilaterally and with our European Union partners, the importance we attach to human rights, including those of children. We closely monitor developments on this issue and, in particular, on bringing those responsible for the murders of street children to justice.
	The chronic and well-documented situation faced by street children in Brazil is a matter for concern and forms a regular part of our human rights dialogue with the Brazilian Government. The UK supports a number of practical projects in Brazil including human rights training for the Brazilian police and prison services; a small arms project in the slum areas of Rio de Janeiro, and work in Rio on giving people alternatives to involvement in violent and organised crime. While not exclusively focused on street children, these projects are relevant to many of the problems they face.

Burma

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Government of Burma regarding (a) persecution of the Chin people and (b) the destruction of crosses and churches in Chin state.

Douglas Alexander: I met the Burmese ambassador on 29 November 2004 and pressed for political reform, full respect for human rights and the need for all groups in Burma, including ethnic groups, to play a full part in national reconciliation.
	Discrimination and persecution on the basis of religious or ethnic background has been condemned in successive highly critical UK co-sponsored UN Resolutions on Burma, most recently at the UN General Assembly on 23 December 2004. The EU statement issued before the National Convention to draw up a new constitution reconvened on 17 February emphasised the need for the regime to enter into a constructive dialogue with ethnic groups to achieve lasting national reconciliation.
	Our ambassador in Rangoon has drawn to the attention of the Burmese Foreign Minister the serious concerns expressed by hon. Members and peers of both houses about the question of religious freedom in Burma.

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Burma regarding the detention and treatment of NLD member U Soe Han;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Burma regarding the detention and treatment of NLD member U Saw Naing Naing.

Douglas Alexander: We have not made representations about these particular cases.
	I met the Burmese ambassador on 29 November and called for the release of all political prisoners in Burma. My statement on 30 November also called for the release of all political prisoners. A copy of the statement is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/press-releases.
	We hold the Burmese regime responsible for the health of all political prisoners in Burma.

Cambodia

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Cambodian Government regarding (a) the forced repatriation of Montagnard refugees in Cambodia to Vietnam and (b) the payment of bribes by the Vietnamese authorities to Cambodian officials to conduct such repatriations.

Douglas Alexander: We regularly raise with the Cambodian authorities the importance of fulfilling their obligations under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its related 1967 Protocol. We also continue to reiterate to the Cambodian authorities the need for close co-operation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
	Our embassies in Phnom Penh and Hanoi have been in regular contact with the Cambodian and Vietnamese Governments, the local UNHCR representatives, and resident EU partners about this issue. The issue has also been discussed at official level in Brussels.
	We welcome the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on resolving the Montagnards presence in Cambodia by the Cambodian and Vietnamese Governments and the UNHCR on 25 January.
	We believe such a tripartite agreement is the best way of resolving this issue.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government abroad have had with (i) members and (ii) representatives of the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and (A) Angola, (B) Zambia, (C) Tanzania, (D) Burundi, (E) Uganda, (F) Sudan, (G) Central African Republic and (H) the People's Republic of the Congo regarding the (1) possibility, (2) viability and (3) desirability of the implementation of Joint Border Verification Mechanisms between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and each of the above mentioned countries along the model of the Joint Border Verification Mechanism between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda for the amelioration and stabilisation of the (x) security and (y) humanitarian situation of the border regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: A Joint Verification Mechanism (JVM) is already in operation between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. We have discussed with the DRC government the possible extension of the JVM to include Burundi. We supported international efforts which brought Burundi into the Tripartite Agreement on Regional Security in the Great Lakes.
	We have not discussed the further extension of the JVM but we support the Great Lakes Conference process. At its summit in Dar Es Salaam in November 2004 the heads of state of Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia made a declaration containing guarantees on security and good neighbourliness. Senior UK officials were involved at the summit, and the Department for International Development has contributed over 250,000 to the costs of the Conference so far.

Departmental Budget

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what budget was allocated to his Department's (a) Europe Directorate and (b) Public Diplomacy Unit in (i) each of the last three years and (ii) the current year.

Jack Straw: The Europe Directorate General of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has evolved over the period in line with developments in Europe and as more countries join the EU. The budgets allocated cover operational running costs at home and overseas (i.e. in British embassies and other Missions and including locally engaged staff salaries), capital investment and programme expenditure.
	In financial year 200102 it was responsible for the UK's engagement with the EU institutions and our bilateral relations with the other 14 EU member states. The budget allocated was 65,633,886.
	In financial year 200203, the responsibilities remained the same. The budget allocated was 64,673,659.
	In financial year 200304 it additionally took on responsibility for Gibraltar and our bilateral relations with Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and the 10 Accession countries. The budget allocated was 113,012,445.
	In the current financial year it has additionally taken on responsibility for our bilateral relations with the Western Balkan countries, Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus. The budget allocation is 127,473,000.
	The budgets for the Public Diplomacy Group of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office over the four years ending in the current financial year have been as follows:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 200102 21,665,053 
			 200203 13,960,641 
			 200304 15,534,494 
			 200405 15,768,100 
		
	
	The structure of the Group and the ambit of its work have changed during the period.
	Not included in the amounts in the table are the BBC World Service and British Council grants in aid, and the programme allocation for BBC Monitoring. Also not included are the FCO's total allocations for Chevening Scholarships.

Election Observers

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role the United Kingdom plays in providing international election observers.

Bill Rammell: The UK's main contributions to election observation missions are made through the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), where we regularly provide 10 per cent. of the total number of observers; the European Union, where we are consistently the largest contributor; and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
	Also, hon. Members of UK parliamentary bodies regularly serve as election observers. In addition to the UK Parliament, observers are drawn from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and the European Parliament.
	The Government are also heavily involved in the development of election observation policy and methodology, either through the organisations above, or in discussions with other regional organisations such as the Organisation of American States and the Southern Africa Development Community.

Entry Visas

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many entry visas have been granted by the British embassy in Albania to (a) male and (b) female who were Albanian nationals in each of the last three years, broken down by category of visa; and what the average length of stay in the United Kingdom granted by the British entry certificate office in Albania (i) was in each year and (ii) has been over the last three years.

Chris Mullin: The number of successful entry clearance applications from Albanian nationals broken down by sex and category of visa, over the last three calendar years, is as follows:
	
		Visas issued by the British embassy in Albania to Albanian Nationals
		
			 (a) and (b) 
			  January to December 
			  2002 2003 2004 
			 Endorsement Men Women Men Women Men Women 
		
		
			 Settlement 204 97 493 199 775 231 
			 Visitor 1,044 827 1,466 1,245 2,394 2,282 
			 Student 51 60 87 90 89 98 
			 Work Permit 72 29 40 15 98 44 
			 Exempt 8 9 1 1 0 1 
			 EEA 3 0 12 2 34 7 
			 Total 1,382 1,022 2,099 1,552 3,390 2,663 
		
	
	
		(i) and (ii)
		
			 Visa duration 2002 2003 2004 Total 
		
		
			 1 Month 154 252 620 1,026 
			 1 Year 207 566 163 936 
			 2 Years 20 96 607 723 
			 3 Months 351 223 79 653 
			 4 Years 4 0 0 4 
			 5 Years 7 6 9 22 
			 6 Months 1,436 2,172 4,201 7,809 
			 Other 225 336 381 942 
		
	
	Note:
	The modal group, in each case, shows that the average length of stay in the UK in each year and over the three years is six months.
	These statistics are taken from the Central Reference System of UKvisas, the department responsible for entry clearance matters arising overseas, and are subject to change. UKvisas makes every effort to ensure that statistics from our Central Reference System are accurate.

Eritrea

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will propose (a) sanctions and (b) alternative measures to be brought against the Eritrean authorities to prevent the action being taken against Christians in the country.

Chris Mullin: We do not believe that sanctions are the right way forward. The international community would not support them, and our only direct assistance to Eritrea is humanitarian, which is not subject to conditionality. Reducing humanitarian assistance as a means of addressing religious persecution would only harm the people of Eritrea. We will continue to raise the issue of religious freedom with the Government of Eritrea, both bilaterally and in concert with our EU partners.

Estonia

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the establishment of Scotland House in Estonia;
	(2)  whether he has discussed the establishment of Scotland House in Estonia with the Scottish Executive;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the impact on Scottish-Estonian relations of the opening of Scotland House in Estonia;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the services provided to Scottish businesses by Scotland House in Estonia;
	(5)  what assessment he has made of the potential economic benefit to Scotland and the UK of improved trade links arising from the opening of Scotland House in Estonia.

Chris Mullin: We welcome the fact that a group of UK businesspeople have set up a business consultancy in Estonia to help develop commercial links with Scottish companies. Our embassy in Tallinn stands ready to offer them the full range of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) services.
	Neither the embassy in Tallinn nor the wider Foreign and Commonwealth Office were asked for assistance on the establishment of Scotland House and no assessment of the services provided has been carried out. However, both we and the Scottish Executive were aware of the establishment of the consultancy.

Estonia

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide financial and logistical support to business consortia looking to establish Scottish trade offices, similar to Scotland House in Estonia, in other European capitals.

Denis MacShane: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) has a varying range of services available to all UK companies at UK missions in European capitals. Scottish Development International (SDI), a joint venture between the Scottish Executive and its economic development agency Scottish Enterprise, also provides additional support to Scottish companies wishing to develop their international business.

Estonia

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many requests for assistance were received by the British embassy in Estonia from Scottish businesses looking to invest in or trade with Estonia in the last year for which information is available; how many requests for information relating to investment in or trading with Scotland have been received by the UK embassy in Tallinn from Estonian businesses; and how many staff in the UK embassy in Tallinn are engaged solely or mainly in the development of trading links between (a) Scotland and Estonia and (b) the UK and Estonia.

Chris Mullin: In the year to 3 March 2005, the UK embassy in Tallinn received 85 queries from Scottish businesses looking to invest in or trade with Estonia. In the same time period, no queries have been received from Estonian companies specifically interested in trading with or investing in Scotland. The UK embassy in Tallinn has four members of staff engaged solely or mainly in the development of trading links between the UK, including Scotland and Estonia.

Freedom of Information Requests

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the (a) documents and (b) other information released to date by his Department following Freedom of Information Act requests; and what categories of information requested his Department has refused to release.

Jack Straw: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not hold centrally a list of all information released or categories of information refused. All disclosures of wider public interest are published on the FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk). The FCO's central monitoring system records requests and statistics for disclosures, partial disclosures or refusals. Full details of disclosures and refusals are kept in individual case files opened for each request.
	All FCO information is potentially disclosable under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and will be released if it is in the public interest to do so.

India

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports have been received from the British high commission in India regarding the effects in Jammu and Kashmir of the recent severe weather.

Douglas Alexander: The British high commission in New Delhi has been monitoring the situation in Jammu and Kashmir following the recent heavy snowfalls. On 28 February, the Government of India reported that 278 people had died as a result of the severe weather. Our high commissioner has written to the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir to express our condolences at this loss of life.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which dates during December 2003 the UK special representative in Iraq was acting Coalition Provisional Authority administrator.

Bill Rammell: Whenever ambassador Bremer, Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Administrator, was absent from Iraq, his US deputy took charge and made decisions on his behalf. In May 2003, the UK Government appointed a UK Special Representative for Iraq to work alongside ambassador Bremer, but as an independent presence with no formal role within the CPA's hierarchy and with no formal legal decision-making power. However, from 23 to 30 December 2003, when both ambassador Bremer and his deputy were absent from Iraq, the UK Special Representative looked after CPA affairs. There were neither policy decisions made about Iraq, nor orders signed during this period.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his written ministerial statement of 22 February 2005, Official Report, column 13WS, on British Detainees (Iraq), what the (a) name, (b) age and (c) date of arrest is of the British national held at the Shaibah detention centre in Iraq.

Chris Mullin: The British national held at Shaibah detention centre in Iraq was detained on 9 October 2004.
	It would not be appropriate to release the details requested without the consent of the detainee.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made regarding the Kurdistan Democratic Party's blocking of the delivery of ballot boxes to ChaldoAssyrian towns and villages in northern Iraq, during the 30 January national elections; what assessment he has made of the number of electors prevented from voting; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We are aware of this allegation. A complaint was submitted to the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI), the body responsible for investigating alleged irregularities in the 30 January elections in Iraq. The IECI is investigating all official complaints it has received. Once its investigations are completed, the IECI will write to each complainant with its findings, and will publish a report detailing all the complaints they received and its response to them.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent attacks by Kurdistan Democratic Party militiamen against Chaldo-Assyrians in northern Iraq.

Chris Mullin: We are aware of allegations of attacks by members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party against Chaldo-Assyrians in northern Iraq. Our Consul General in Kirkuk raised the issue with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) last week. All denied that such acts have taken place. The KRG currently have a number of resettlement projects in Iraqi Kurdistan, which includes bringing Christians from places like Baghdad and Basra to settle in the safer areas of Iraqi Kurdistan.

Iraq

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on the UK Muslim community of his policy in relation to Iraq.

Chris Mullin: holding answer 7 March 2005
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is aware of the concerns of some of the British Muslim community about the decision to take military action in Iraq. The Government have a continuing and extensive dialogue with a wide range of Muslim organisations in the UK on a number of issues, including Iraq.

Iraq

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the position of the Government is on the acceptance by the Government of Canada of the principle that the issue of the legality of the Iraq war should be brought before the International Court of Justice.

Douglas Alexander: Our understanding is that the Canadian Government have not advocated seeking a ruling from the International Court of Justice on the legality of the war in Iraq.

Northern Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Turkish administration in Northern Cyprus on the number of people from Turkey moving to live in Northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions recently, either with Turkey or representatives of the Turkish Cypriot Community, about the number of people moving from Turkey to north Cyprus. However our senior officials maintain an open dialogue with the leadership of the Turkish Cypriots on all aspects of the situation in Cyprus.
	The Government maintain their long-standing position of non-recognition of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Occupational Health Contract

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which external consultant advised his Department on the preferred bidder for the contract for occupational health formerly held by Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital Trust.

Douglas Alexander: Mercer HR Consulting were engaged by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to help in reviewing the FCO's healthcare needs and to assist in the development of a specification for a contract to meet these needs in the most cost effective way. Evaluation of tender bids was carried out by a tender panel consisting of FCO officers and Mercer HR Consulting.

Pakistan

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to improve the visa operation in Pakistan.

Chris Mullin: We have worked hard to improve the visa service in Pakistan since it was closed due to security concerns in May 2002. There are now 49 visa officers in Islamabad and an additional ten officers will be posted to Islamabad in April 2005. In Karachi we have reopened the visa office with 3.5 staff and will shortly be posting a further two officers there. We have also outsourced the application procedure to Gerry's Fedex (a local joint venture with Federal Express) to remove the need for every application to be lodged at the high commission in person. We now accept visa applications from all categories except working holidaymakers and first time visitors under 25. We are in discussions with the Pakistani authorities about putting in place the necessary conditions to restore a full service as soon as possible.

People's Redemption Army

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent activities of the People's Redemption Army.

Chris Mullin: The Ugandan Government have alleged that the People's Redemption Army (PRA) is an armed group which has been attempting to establish a network in north-western Uganda. We have seen no evidence of this or that the PRA represents any significant threat to Uganda's stability.

Peru

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Peruvian authorities concerning the imprisonment of the trade union activist Walter Cubas Baltazar.

Bill Rammell: Our embassy in Lima has been regularly monitoring the case of Walter Cubas Baltazar. Mr. Baltazar has made the decision not to appeal against the sentence made by the National Terrorism Court on 29 December 2004.

Peru

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Peruvian authorities concerning the death threats made against Christina Olazabal, the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights in the Province of Ayacucho, Peru.

Bill Rammell: On 2 March, officials at our embassy in Lima spoke to the Peruvian authorities in Ayacucho about reports of alleged threats made against the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights in Ayacucho. The Human Rights Ombudsman in Ayacucho is aware of these reports. The Special Prosecutor has not raised this matter with the Human Rights Ombudsman in Ayacucho.

Research and Development

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department's international science network of support has made of industrial research and development in (a) the US, (b) EU accession states, (c) India and (d) China.

Douglas Alexander: The Science and Innovation Network was set up in key selected countries, including the US, China and India, to work on issues of science policy, science collaboration, wealth creation and public diplomacy. Among the EU accession countries there are officers only in Poland and the Czech Republic. The Network reports on industrial research and development, among other scientific issues, to help inform UK policy and practice on science and innovation. For example, the Network made a significant input to inform the Department for Trade and Industry's Innovation Report in December 2003. It also provides reports on request to a range of UK stakeholders. The Global Watch Online website http://www.globalwatchonline.com/countries/ciner.aspx includes reports from the Network sorted according to country and sector. This site is being updated and will be relaunched in April.

Russian Federation

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the Russian Federation's progress in moving towards a market based democracy with economic transparency; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Russia has made important progress along the path of economic and democratic reforms since the break-up of the Soviet Union. President Putin's first term saw an impressive programme of economic reforms launched, designed to liberalise the economy. Further progress was made on issues such as land law and tax reform, deregulation, and helping to create better conditions for small and medium sized businesses.
	Russia was recognised by the EU and US as having attained market economy status in 2002. We support Russia's objective of joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and welcome the stimulus this has given to further market reforms. A bilateral agreement on WTO accession terms and conditions was concluded with the EU in May 2004.
	We are, through bilateral Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development programmes, supporting Russia's process of economic reform, and we are working on programmes connected to issues such as corporate social governance and media oversight, designed to improve economic transparency.
	It is clear that the handling of the Yukos affair has raised concerns in the minds of investors in Russia about the Government's commitment to transparency and the rule of law. We have raised these concerns with the Russian Government. We have also underlined the need to reaffirm commitment to open markets and democratic processes. In that respect, we welcome President Putin's recent statements in Bratislava on Russia's commitment to democracy and want to see this and the rule of law firmly entrenched in the reform process, as well as human rights protected.

Student Visas

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of changes in the numbers of student visa applications from China in recent years.

Chris Mullin: The information requested is in the table.
	
		
			  As at 1 April to 31 March: 
			 Student visa applications received 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Guangzhou 4,829 6,554 6,193 
			 Beijing 19,581 22,161 22,828 
			 Shanghai 4,928 5,762 6,487 
			 Total 29,338 34,477 35,508 
		
	
	The table shows the number of visa applications received from students at our visa issuing posts in China over the three most recent years has increased. Statistics for the period April 2004 to March 2005 are not yet available. When they are, they can be found, along with further entry clearance statistics, on the UKvisas website at www.ukvisas.gov.ukEntry Clearance: Facts and Figures.

Terrorism

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what means UK security authorities are able to monitor the activities abroad of foreign nationals who accept voluntary deportation, having been held in detention under Part 4 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001; and what co-operation agreements are in place between United Kingdom security and intelligence services and those of other states to combat terrorism.

Jack Straw: Our security and intelligence services co-operate closely with their counterparts in many countries on counter terrorism. It is not in the public interest to provide details of such cooperation in particular cases.

Tsunami

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with countries affected by the Asian tsunami regarding the sexual exploitation of children left (a) orphaned and (b) otherwise vulnerable by the disaster; and what assistance the Government have given to help combat sexual exploitation.

Bill Rammell: The response to the tsunami is an agenda item for discussion between EU and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ministers on 9 March in Jakarta.
	We take the opportunity to discuss these issues in our meetings with ASEAN counterparts. Discussions continue between UK government officials, including law enforcement officers, and the authorities of the countries affected on UK support for the protection of vulnerable children in the region. A regional law enforcement training course funded by the UK and held in February in Bangkok on dealing with sex offenders included a specific element on the response to the tsunami.

Tyrannies

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries classified as tyrannies by his Department; what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) other members of the UK Government have had with (i) members and (ii) representatives of the US Administration with regard to a common definition of tyranny; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: It is not our practice to classify countries as tyrannies. There are, however, countries where poor adherence to international human rights standards, and a lack of commitment to democracy, good governance and the rule of law, cause us particular concern. The Government work to improve the human rights performance of such countries both bilaterally with the countries concerned; in partnership with others, such as the US; and multilaterally, through the EU, UN and other organisations. A full record of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) work in this area is published in our annual report on human rights, copies of which are placed in the Library of the House, and which is also available on the FCO website: www.fco.gov.uk.

Uganda

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the recent appointment of Sam Kutessa as Uganda's Foreign Minister.

Chris Mullin: We have normal diplomatic relations with Uganda. Ministerial appointments are a matter for the Ugandan authorities.

Uganda

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Ugandan authorities regarding the kidnapping in Kenya of Mr. George Tumwesigye Owakukiroru.

Chris Mullin: We understand that George Tumwesigye was arrested on the Uganda/Kenya border on a charge of treason. He is now being held in Kigo Prison in Kampala, and we understand that his case is due to be heard on 9 March. We are in touch with the Uganda Human Rights Commission, which is monitoring the conditions under which he is being held.

United States

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent visit of President Bush to the EU headquarters in Brussels.

Chris Mullin: The timing of President Bush's visit to Europe, so early in his second term, shows the importance he attaches to the transatlantic relationship. As President Bush highlighted in his speech on 22 February,
	America and Europe face a moment of consequence and opportunity.
	Leaders on both sides recognise the continued importance of the EU and US continuing to work in partnership on the challenges that face us in the 21st century.

Zimbabwe

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Zimbabwe regarding the legal case against the MDC Deputy Chief Whip, Thoko Khupe;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Zimbabwe about the responsible use of powers under the Public Order and Security Act.

Chris Mullin: A meeting attended by Thoko Khupe was broken up by the Zimbabwean authorities. Opposition MPs and candidates are frequently arrested for holding meetings deemed to be illegal under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA). We are clear that selective application by the Government of Zimbabwe of restrictive legislation is intolerable. I made these points firmly when I met the Zimbabwean ambassador on 22 February.

HEALTH

A and E Waiting Times

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the success of implementing a four hour target for waiting time in accident and emergency departments;
	(2)  what plans he has to review the four hour waiting target in accident and emergency departments.

Rosie Winterton: The Department's autumn performance report, published in December 2004, sets out the latest assessment for delivery of targets agreed as part of the Department's spending review 2002 public service agreement. This report is available in the Library. Latest published figures show that, by October to December, 96.8 per cent. of patients were admitted, transferred or discharged from accident and emergency within four hours. This compares with just 78 per cent. between October and December 2002. Over 19 out of 20 patients are now in and out of AE within four hours.
	From 1 January 2005, 98 per cent. became the ongoing minimum operational standard for total time in AE. Data on performance for the first period following this, January to March 2005, will be available in mid May.

Asthma

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will re-examine the level of NHS prescriptions charges in respect of asthma medication.

Rosie Winterton: We have no plans to add asthma to the existing list of medical conditions that give exemption from prescription charges. The list has been reviewed on a number of occasions, but no clear-cut case for extending it has emerged. There is no consensus on what additional conditions might be included in any revised list of medical exemptions, or how distinctions could be drawn between one condition and another.

Body Mass Index

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average body mass index in (a) England, (b) each strategic health authority and (c) each primary care trust was in each year since 1997.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 23 March 2005
	The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Body Mass Index

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average body mass index was in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each strategic health authority in each year since 1997.

Melanie Johnson: Figures available from the Health Survey for England have been placed in the Library.

Botox

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps have been taken to ensure that the botox which is used for cosmetic purposes in the UK has been safety-tested; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will ban the (a) prescribing and (b) use of botulinum toxin for cosmetic purposes.

Rosie Winterton: The uses approved for licensed botulinum products are limited to the treatment of certain kinds of muscular spasms and disabling spasticities. For those uses we are satisfied that the products meet all of the safety requirements laid down in European legislation and guidance and these together with standards for quality and efficacy are a prerequisite for the licensing of medicinal products.
	If these products are being used for cosmetic purposes then they are being used outside the terms of the product licenses the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has granted. However, doctors may prescribe and use a licensed medicine for unlicensed purposes to meet the need of an individual patient, on their own responsibility, where they judge the benefit to the patient is justified.
	The Chief Medical Officer established the Expert Group on the Regulation of Cosmetic Surgery to provide advice on whether the current regulation of cosmetic surgery was sufficient to ensure patient safety. The expert group published its report on 28 January 2005. It recommended that the current law relating to the prescription of botulinum toxinwhich allows for its prescription by a doctor and its administration by a doctor or nursesshould be more consistently adhered to, and that facilities where botulinum toxin is injected should be licensed by the Healthcare Commission and subject to its regulations. The Government accept these recommendations, and will work with the Healthcare Commission, professional bodies and other key stakeholders to formulate an implementation programme.

Community Pharmaceutical Services

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the new contract for NHS community pharmaceutical services on primary care trusts;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the new contract for NHS community pharmaceutical services on general practitioners;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the new contract for NHS community pharmaceutical services on rural general practitioner surgeries;
	(4)  what recent progress has been made regarding control of entry regulations for primary care trusts;
	(5)  what recent progress has been made regarding the publication of regulations for primary care trusts involved with the new contract for NHS community pharmaceutical services; and if he will make a statement on the regulatory frameworks for the new NHS contract for community pharmaceutical services.

Rosie Winterton: The new contractual framework for community pharmacy gives primary care trusts (PCTs) the opportunity to work with local pharmacists to develop a range of high quality community pharmacy services. This will make them an integral part of local primary care provision. PCTs should be able to exploit fully the opportunities in order to maximise the benefits to patients.
	The framework offers considerable benefits for general practitioners (GPs) and the opportunity to work closer with community pharmacists whether in rural or non-rural areas. This includes support for self-care, the management of common ailments and helping patients get the best from their medicines. The introduction of repeat dispensing in every pharmacy will mean that patients will be able to get a prescription from their GP to be dispensed in instalments by their pharmacy for up to a year without patients having to make repeat visits to the surgery for their prescriptions. This will help reduce GP workloads, offer opportunities for pharmacists to review patient medication and minimise waste by not dispensing medicines that patients no longer require. Repeat dispensing is especially of benefit to people with long-term conditions.
	We have recently finished consulting representative organisations on the regulatory changes needed to bring in the new framework and the reforms to the control of entry system. We will shortly lay these before Parliament together with the final regulatory impact assessment. We will also publish directions to PCTs, concerning how they are to implement some of the aspects of the new framework and a determination regarding the remuneration to be paid to national health service community pharmacy contractors.
	The regulations will ensure the new framework and the balanced package of control of entry reform measures broaden the range and quality of services for patients, encouraging innovation and excellence in service provision.

Counselling and Psychotherapy Profession

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on current and planned future regulation of the counselling and psychotherapy profession in England; and what discussions he has held with (a) the Health Minister in the Scottish Executive, (b) the National Assembly for Wales Secretary for Health and (c) the Northern Ireland Office on current and future regulation of the counselling and psychotherapy profession across the UK.

John Hutton: Counsellors and psychotherapists are not currently subject to statutory regulation. Some are subject to partial voluntary regulation through membership of professional organisations.
	Departmental officials in England are working towards the statutory regulation of counsellors and psychotherapists via the Health Professions Council (HPC). The HPC is a United Kingdom-wide regulator. However, since regulation of currently unregulated professions is a devolved matter it is for the health department of the Scottish Executive (SEHD), the National Assembly of Wales (NAW) and the Northern Ireland Office (NOI) to decide whether or not they wish to regulate counsellors and psychotherapists in this way. Departmental officials keep their counterparts in the SEHD, NAW and NIO informed regularly about progress in this area.

Counter Fraud and Security Management Service

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training the staff of the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service who are directly involved in investigation receive; and what plans he has to change their training.

Rosie Winterton: The national health service counter fraud and security management service (CFSMS) provides training for all staff who counter fraud and corruption within the NHS.
	It is mandatory for all NHS counter fraud specialists to complete successfully a counter fraud foundation level course. This high quality professional training has been accredited by the universities of Portsmouth, East London and Wolverhampton and is worth 40 higher education credits.
	Successful completion of the foundation level leads to the nationally recognised professional qualification of accredited counter fraud specialist (ACFS). The NHS is one of a number of organisations where staff are trained to this standard. At the end of 2004, there were 8,274 qualified ACFSs from hundreds of organisations in both the public and private sectors including six Government Departments, such as the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Government agencies such as the Audit Commission, several police forces, banks, investment companies and over 300 local authorities.
	Further training includes an intermediate level course, which focuses on prevention and deterrence of fraud. Additionally, the CFSMS provides refresher training on issues such as interviewing skills and regularly updates training where there are changes in law or procedures that have an impact on work to counter fraud.
	Throughout the year, the CFSMS ensures ongoing support and training for staff through quarterly forums and an annual conference. There is also assistance through a training centre helpline and a regional network.
	Because the training attracts higher education credits, it can lead on to further academic study and the CFSMS supports staff who want to continue to develop and work towards a BSc. (Hons) in counter fraud and criminal justice studies.
	At present there are no plans to change the training. It is regularly reviewed to ensure that it is relevant and meets the requirements of staff.

Counter Fraud and Security Management Service

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many investigations by the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service are ongoing with respect to (a) GPs, (b) nurses, (c) hospital doctors and consultants, (d) pharmacists, (e) dentists, (f) external contractors and (g) others.

Rosie Winterton: There are currently 462 investigations being undertaken by the national health service counter fraud and security management service. A breakdown of staff groups involved is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Category Number under investigation 
		
		
			 General practitioners 60 
			 Hospital doctors and consultants 23 
			 Nurses 35 
			 Pharmacists 68 
			 Dentists 86 
			 External contractors 28 
			 Others 191 
		
	
	The breakdown shows a greater number than the total of 462 as there can be more than one person involved in any particular investigation 77 patients are also being investigated.

Counter Fraud and Security Management Service

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the financial benefit has been to the NHS of the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service and its predecessor the NHS Counter Fraud Service in each year since September 1998; and if he will list successful recoveries of assets worth over 500,000 in each year since September 1998.

Rosie Winterton: The national health service counter fraud and security management service has published its performance statistics annually since 19992000.
	The financial benefit to the NHS per year is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Amount () 
		
		
			 19992000 52,477,000 
			 200001 71,993,000 
			 200102 84,716,000 
			 200203 135,269,000 
			 200304 134,017,000 
		
	
	Single recoveries of over 500,000 in each year are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Recoveries 
			
		
		
			 200001 1x 1,337,610 
			  1x 650,000 
			 200102 1x 799,087 
			 200203 1x 1,750,000 
			 200304 1x 1,400,000 
			 200405 1x 1,128,000 
			  1x 799,087

Counter Fraud and Security Management Service

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget of the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service and its predecessor the NHS Counter Fraud Service has been in each year since September 1998.

Rosie Winterton: The budgetary allocation for national health service counter fraud service is shown in the following table.
	
		 million
		
			  Budgetary allocation resource from the Department(33) 
		
		
			 19992000 4.15 
			 200001 4.25 
			 200102 5.44 
			 200203 6.10 
		
	
	(33) This was increased in 200304 to 14.71 million when responsibility was assumed for the security management service.

Counter Fraud and Security Management Service

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether the proposals to strengthen the powers of the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service announced by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 21 October 2004 will require primary legislation; and when he expects to publish the outcome of the consultation process on the proposals;
	(2)  what powers the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service has to access personal information; and what powers he expects the service will have following the proposed changes announced by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 21 October 2004.

Rosie Winterton: Responses to the consultation document Access to Relevant Documents, Records and Data to Counter Fraud are currently being analysed. In accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Consultations a summary of responses will be published within three months of the consultation closing date of 21 January 2005. At this stage, it is too early to say what shape any future measures may take but they will be informed by the outcome of the consultation exercise.
	The NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS) do not currently have any specific powers to require access to personal information. Under the National Health Service Act 1977 the Secretary of State for Health has directed national health service bodies to co-operate with the CFSMS to enable it to efficiently and effectively carry out its counter fraud functions. This includes the supply of information to the CFSMS unless the supply of such information is prohibited by law.

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Polish dentists (a) have registered and (b) are waiting to register with the General Dental Council to practise consequent on his Department's contract with Methods Consulting; and how many have commenced practising in England; and what support his Department is providing to these dentists.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 25 February 2005
	As a result of the Department's recruitment activity in Poland, 69 dentists have registered with the General Dental Council and no dentists are currently waiting to register with the General Dental Council. 28 dentists have started in practice and a further 41 will begin practice in England during March and early April. Pastoral support and induction are provided by local primary care trusts and the Post Graduate Dental Deanery.

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are in place to co-ordinate the different government groups working on the Personal Dental Service (PDS) contract; what the running costs of (a) the Modernisation Agency and (b) Options for Change field sites to administer the PDS conversion process were in the latest year for which figures are available; and what steps he is taking to reduce administration costs in the PDS conversion process.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 28 February 2005
	The NHS Modernisation Agency set up the Modernising Dentistry Programme in 2002 following the publication of Options for Change report to look at new ways of working in dentistry. The total budget for the programme, which includes field sites, was 1 million in 200405. The 48 field sites involve around 250 dental practices, which are widely distributed across England. They range from practices looking at remuneration and commissioning, electronic booking, the patient experience, clinical governance and customer care, through to primary care trust wide and strategic health authority wide remuneration sites. Field sites have been supported to develop, and monitor their Option for Change projects, some of which have required conversion to personal dental service (PDS) schemes. Building upon these foundations, PDS is now providing dentists with the opportunity to take advanced benefit of the new contractual arrangements, which we are to introduce by April 2006. We now have some 4,400 dentists in over 1,500 dental practices working under PDS arrangements and, by April 2005, we expect 25 per cent. of all dental practices to have moved to PDS.

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which primary care trusts have not applied to the 59 million fund to help with access to dentistry in 200405;
	(2)  how many applications made by primary care trusts to the 59 million fund to help with access to dentistry in 200405 have been (a) granted and (b) rejected; and in how many cases decisions are pending.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 28 February 2005
	Of these funds, 50 million have been delegated for strategic health authorities to manage. The remaining 9 million is being used by the national health service dentistry support team, to work with the primary care trusts (PCTs), shown in the table. The team selected the PCTs on the basis of demonstrable, severe access problems rather than by application.
	PCTs with support
	Fareham and Gosport PCT
	Isle of Wight PCT
	New Forest PCT
	West Gloucestershire PCT
	North East Lincolnshire PCT
	Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale PCT
	Craven, Harrogate and Rural District PCT
	Northumbria Care Trust
	Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT
	Hyndeburn and Ribble PCT
	Blackburn with Darwen PCT
	Morecambe Bay PCT
	Shropshire County PCT
	Telford and Wrekin PCT
	South West Staffordshire PCT
	Central Cheshire PCT
	Wyre Forest
	Herefordshire
	South Worcestershire
	North Lincolnshire
	Selby and York
	West Lincolnshire
	East Lincolnshire
	Lincolnshire South West Teaching
	West Cumbria
	Carlisle and District
	Eden Valley
	East Staffordshire
	Teignbridge
	East Kent Coastal
	Portsmouth City

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the percentage Personal Dental Service conversion rates are in each (a) primary care trust and (b) strategic health authority.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 1 March 2005
	Information on the number of personal dental service (PDS) surgery addresses at 31 January 2005 as a percentage of the total general and personal dental surgery addresses for each primary care trust and strategic health authority has been placed in the Library.

Dentistry

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have been recruited overseas to work in NHS dentistry in England since 1 January 2004.

Rosie Winterton: The Department is gathering information on recruitment activity since April 2004. This will include local national health service international recruitment activity and departmental central recruitment initiatives. The latter will include 28 Polish dentists who began work in England in January and the further 41 starting work between mid March and mid April.

Digital Hearing Aids

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the Government's policy is on supplying digital hearing aids to those who have been diagnosed to be in need of them;
	(2)  what the Government's timetable is for providing digital hearing aids to those diagnosed to be in need of them.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department has invested 125 million into the modernising hearing aid services (MHAS) project since it started in September 2000. MHAS has been retaining audiologists and modernising national health service services in a phased way to enable them to offer digital hearing aids to people who would benefit from them.
	95 per cent., of all NHS audiology departments in England are fitting digital hearing aids routinely to those people they have diagnosed as suitable and the few remaining departments will be offering the service by the end of March 2005.
	We have recently announced new waiting time targets for NHS diagnostic services so that, by 2008, nobody will have to wait longer than 18 weeks from referral to receiving their digital hearing aid if that is what they require.

GP (Registration)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people in England who are not registered with a GP; and what his most recent estimate is of the average length of time a person waits to be registered with a GP.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people in England who are not registered with a general practitioner; and what his most recent estimate is of the average length of time a person has to wait before being registered with a general practitioner.

John Hutton: holding answer 4 March 2005
	The Department does not collect data on the number of people who are not registered with a general practice. It is also not possible to estimate their number with any accuracy because of inherent differences between practice registration data and the demographic data collected by the Office for National Statistics.
	There is no waiting time to register with a general practice beyond the actual time it takes to complete the administrative process of registration. Where a patient cannot register because his or her preferred practice is not accepting new patients there may be a delay while the primary care trust helps the patient find an alternative practice but no data are collected centrally on this.

Health Care Workers (Immunisation)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish new guidance on testing and immunisation of healthcare workers for HIV and hepatitis.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 23 February 2005
	Guidance on the health clearance of new health care workers for serious communicable diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C is due to be published by the summer.

Health Services (Burnley)

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was being spent in (a) 1997 and (b) the last year for which figures are available in (i) East Lancashire Acute Trust and (ii) Burnley General Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: Trust operating expenses for East Lancashire hospitals national health service trust and its predecessor trusts is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Trust Amount ( thousand) 
		
		
			 199798 Burnley Health Care NHS Trust 88,898 
			 199798 Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust 79,313 
			 200304 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 231,430 
		
	
	Sources:
	1. Audited summarisation schedules of the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 200304.
	2. Audited summarisation schedules of the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust and the Burnley Health Care NHS Trust 199798.

Hospital Acquired Infections

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he plans to publish on (a) Clostridium difficile, (b) vancomycin-resistant enterococci and (c) post-surgical infection in orthopaedics; and when he expects to begin publishing this information.

Melanie Johnson: Information on Clostridium difficile disease, vancomycin resistant enterococci and surgical site infections is already available from the Health Protection Agency's voluntary reporting scheme and published routinely on its website at www.hpa.org.uk.

Insulin

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to ensure the continued availability of a reliable supply of animal insulin.

Rosie Winterton: There are two companies who supply animal insulin to the United Kingdom market, Wockhardt UK and Novo Nordisk. Neither has informed the Department of any intention to cease supply.

Lancashire Teaching Hospital Trust

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the procedure is for informing hon. Members of the appointment of a new chairman for Lancashire Teaching Hospital Trust.

Melanie Johnson: The Secretary of State has delegated functions relating to the appointments to national health service trusts to the NHS Appointments Commission. I have asked the chair of the Appointments Commission, Sir William Wells, to write directly to my hon. Friend with the information he has requested.

Mental Health

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what evaluation he has made of the Appleby Report on the National Service Framework for Mental Healthfive years on, with particular reference to variations in access to atypical anti-psychotic drugs;
	(2)  what action is being taken by his Department to encourage implementation of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines on the use of atypical anti-psychotics in schizophrenia; when full implementation will be achieved; and how implementation will be measured.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 7 March 2005
	The National Director for Mental Health's review of the national service framework for mental health states that the use of atypical antipsychotics had been increasing prior to the publication of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal and that the appraisal may have its greatest benefit in parts of the country that have been slow to use such drugs. No evaluation has been made of the report's reference to variations in access to atypical antipsychotic drugs. However, the Department will continue to monitor antipsychotics accounted for 60 per cent. of all prescription items of antipsychotics dispensed in the community in England, compared to 48 per cent. of all antipsychotics for the year ending June 2002, when the relevant NICE appraisal guidance was published.
	Since January 2002, the national health service has had three months from the date of publication of each technology appraisal guidance to provide funding so that clinical decisions made by doctors involving NICE recommended treatments or drugs can be funded.

Mesothelioma

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce a national strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 7 March 2005
	A lung cancer advisory group has been established to support the development and delivery of high quality services for lung cancer patients. One of key areas that this group will address is the management of the increasing incidence of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines are available to NHS staff on the treatment of mesothelioma.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 7 March 2005
	We continue to keep a close eye on clinical trials to determine when the development of clinical guidelines on mesothelioma might be appropriate.
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently appraising pemetrexed disodium (Alimta), for the treatment of mesothelioma. NICE is currently consulting on the draft scope for this appraisal and final guidance is expected to be issued in the summer of 2006.

MRI Scans

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 7 February 2005, Official Report, columns 1337W, on MRI scans, what aspects of the contract are monitored; how the information is collected; and if he will publish (a) the data collected to date and (b) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the contract to date.

John Hutton: holding answer 23 February 2005
	The contract is monitored using key performance indicators (KPI) and management information regarding patient referrals by the national health service. KPI data are submitted monthly under the terms of the contract and is reviewed by the Department. The KPI data contains information on numbers of scans delivered, timeliness, quality and customer satisfaction.
	Alliance Medical provide a full report of activity and rejections (including reasons for this) to the referring bodies and NHS leads in the local health economy. This information is commercially sensitive and may include information on patients, which is confidential.
	The contract has delivered scans to in excess of 25,000 patients to date. Evidence suggests that this programme has already proved effective in driving down waiting times.

MRI Scans

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of NHS MRI scans will be delivered under the Alliance Medical contract during the term of the contract.

John Hutton: holding answer 1 March 2005
	The Department does not have information on national health service diagnostic activity levels for every year of the five-year contract period. The information requested is therefore not available.

MRSA

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of MRSA there have been at Conquest hospital in Hastings, East Sussex, in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 8 March 2005
	The number of reports of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemia is not available centrally by individual hospital. All acute national health service trusts are required to report MRSA bloodstream infections as part of the mandatory surveillance system introduced in April 2001.

NHS (Treatment Contracts)

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS contracts with private diagnostic and treatment centres require the NHS to pay for all contracted operations whether they are carried out or not.

John Hutton: holding answer 3 February 2005
	I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 4 March 2005, Official Report, column 1470W.

NHS Spending

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on hospital and community services in the NHS in each year since 1991.

John Hutton: Information on the expenditure on hospital and community services in England is shown in the table. Expenditure figures provided include the commissioning of secondary healthcare, which is the closest to the information requested. It is not possible to provide comparable figures prior to 199697.
	
		
			  Amount (000) 
		
		
			 199697 21,740,132 
			 199798 22,823,715 
			 199899 24,464,341 
			 19992000 26,390,562 
			 200001 29,091,286 
			 200102 30,432,239 
			 200203 32,941,536 
			 200304 36,305,199 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Expenditure is taken from audited health authority summarisation forms and primary care trust summarisation schedules which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from cash allocations in the year. Figures are given in cash terms.
	2. Figures for 19961997 to 200001 have been prepared using gross expenditure figures.
	3. Figures for 200102 to 200304 have been adjusted to eliminate expenditure which would be double counted where an authority acts as a lead in commissioning healthcare or other services.
	Sources:
	1. Health authority audited accounts 199697 and 199798.
	2. Health authority audited summarisation forms 199899 to 200102.
	3. Strategic health authority audited summarisation forms 200203 and 200304.
	4. Primary care trust audited summarisation schedules 200001 to 200304.

NHS University

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many courses have been completed at the NHS University since its establishment.

John Hutton: For the period 16 July 2003 to 11 January 2005, there have been 41,008 staff enrolments onto NHSU programmes. From these 41,008, NHSU has advised that 36,855 have completed the course on which they enrolled.

NHS University

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many persons will be made redundant as a result of the decision to close the NHS University;
	(2)  how many persons will be transferred to other NHS posts as a result of the closure of the NHS University.

John Hutton: Decisions about the future of each of the functions and programmes of the NHS University will be taken in light of the wider programme of work, being led by Sir Ian Carruthers QBE, Chief Executive of Dorset and Somerset strategic health authority, to establish the new NHS Institute for Learning Skills and Innovation. The number of any associated redundancies will be minimised.

Physiotherapists (North-east)

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many physiotherapists are employed at each hospital primary care trust within County Durham and Tees Valley, and Tyne and Wear Strategic Health Authority; and how many vacancies exist.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Department of Health vacancies survey, March 2004. National health service three month vacancies in the North East Government office region, by strategic health authority (SHA) area and organisation for qualified physiotherapy staff three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post
		
			   March 2004 September 2003 
			   Three month vacancy rate Staff in post 
			   Percentage Number Whole-time equivalent Headcount 
		
		
			 England  4.1 626 14,455 17,922 
			 of which:  
			 A  
			 North East Government office region  1.7 15 855 1,004 
			   
			 Q10  
			 County Durham and Tees Valley SHA  2.0 7 351 412 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust RXP 0.0  57 71 
			 County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust RTC 0.0  12 15 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley SHA Q10   0 0 
			 Darlington PCT 5J9 *  3 3 
			 Derwentside PCT 5KA   0 0 
			 Durham and Chester-le-Street PCT 5KC 8.1 5 55 63 
			 Durham Dales PCT 5J8   0 0 
			 Easington PCT 5KD   0 0 
			 Hartlepool PCT 5D9   0 0 
			 Langbaurgh PCT 5KN 0.0  12 14 
			 Middlesbrough PCT 5KM 0.0  23 31 
			 North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust RVW 1.0 1 104 122 
			 North Tees PCT 5E1   0 0 
			 Sedgefield PCT 5KE *  2 2 
			 South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust RTR 1.3 1 82 89 
			 Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust RVX *  1 2 
			   
			 Q09  
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA  1.4 8 504 592 
			 City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust RLN 2.2 2 79 91 
			 Gateshead Health NHS Trust RR7 1.3 1 70 77 
			 Gateshead PCT 5KF   0 0 
			 Newcastle PCT 5D7 0.0  31 39 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust RTD 2.0 2 82 96 
			 Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health NHS Trust RNP 0.0  25 30 
			 North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust RVK   0 0 
			 North Tyneside PCT 5D8 *  3 4 
			 Northgate and Prudhoe NHS Trust RM6 3.3 1 29 34 
			 Northumberland Care Trust TAC *  8 10 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA Q09   0 0 
			 Northumbria Health Care NHS Trust RTF 1.4 2 133 161 
			 South of Tyne and Wearside Mental Health NHS Trust RW9 *  5 6 
			 South Tyneside Health Care NHS Trust RE9 0.0  38 43 
			 South Tyneside PCT 5KG *  1 1 
			 Sunderland Teaching PCT 5KL   0 0 
		
	
	Three month vacancy notes:
	1. Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March 2004
	2. Three month vacancies are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole-time equivalents).
	3. Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post.
	4. Three month vacancy rates are calculated using staff in post from the Vacancy Survey, March 2004.
	5. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
	6. * figures where sum of staff in post (as at 31 March 2004) and vacancies is less than 10.
	7. '' Figures where sum of staff in post (as at 31 March 2004) and vacancies is zero.
	Staff in post notes:
	1. Staff in post data are from the non-medical workforce census, September 2003.
	General notes:
	1. Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	2. Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates.
	3. Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of component parts.
	4. SHA figures are based on trusts and do not necessarily reflect the geographical provision of healthcare.
	Sources:
	1. Department of Health vacancies survey, March 2004.
	2. Department of Health non-medical workforce census, September 2003.

Practice Closures

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in (a) England and (b) each primary care trust have had to be allocated to a GP list in each year since 1996.

John Hutton: The Department does not collect this information.

Prescription Costs

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average costs (a) per patient and (b) per unit were of prescriptions issued by (i) dispensing and (ii) non-dispensing general practitioners for each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The average cost per patient and per general medical practitioner (GMP) of prescriptions issued by dispensing and non-dispensing doctors in each year since 1998, is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Average cost per patient () Average cost per GMP () 
			  Dispensing doctors Non-dispensing doctors Dispensing doctors Non-dispensing doctors 
		
		
			 1998 100 90 79,500 181,900 
			 1999 110 100 83,800 205,100 
			 2000 130 100 86,700 214,900 
			 2001 130 110 93,100 234,300 
			 2002 140 130 102,000 261,000 
			 2003 150 140 108,300 281,100 
		
	
	Note:
	Data for 1997 is not available.

Queen's Flight

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions his Department's Ministers used the Queen's Flight in each of the past five years.

Rosie Winterton: None.

Radiation Risks

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes his Department plans to make to its (a) policies and (b) regulatory practices following the recommendations of the Report of the Committee Examining Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters, with particular reference to risk estimates.

Melanie Johnson: I have considered the report from the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) about the final report from Committee Examining Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters (CERRIE). I accept COMARE's view that:
	In the field of radiological protection in general, the precautionary approach has been standard practice and models have been refined as new information has become available.
	I therefore do not consider that there needs to be a change in the Department's policies. Similarly, I consider that current regulatory practices, in particular the environmental regulatory framework regulated by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, are sound.

SSRI Review Group

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) membership and (b) attendance record of each member of the Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor review group is.

Rosie Winterton: The Committee on Safety of Medicines' (CSM) expert working group on the safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors was established in May 2003. The membership included experts in psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry/epidemiology, statistics and general practice, and lay membership. A total of 17 meetings have been held.
	The membership of the group and the number of meetings each member attended is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Member Number of meetings attended 
		
		
			 Professor Ian V. D. Weller (Chair) (34)16 
			 Professor Deborah Ashby 17 
			 Mr. Richard Brook(35) 9 
			 Professor Mary G. A. Chambers 7 
			 Dr. Jonathan D. Chick 15 
			 Professor Colin Drummond 8 
			 Professor David J. Gunnell 12 
			 Professor Klaus Ebmeier 16 
			 Ms Hilary Hawking(36) 3 
			 Dr. Elizabeta Mukaetova-Ladinska 11 
			 Mr. Eamonn O'Tierney(37) 3 
			 Dr. Ross J. Taylor 14 
			 Dr. Ann York 13 
			 Dr. Morris Zwi 10 
		
	
	(34) Professor Gordon Duff, chairman of the CSM, chaired the first meeting of the group.
	(35) Resigned in March 2004.
	(36) Appointed in September 2004.
	(37) Mr. O'Tierney was unable to continue as an active member of the group from July 2003 for personal reasons.

Staff Costs

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of (a) medical and dental staff and (b) administration and estates staff was (i) in cash terms and (ii) as a proportion of total NHS expenditure in each year since 1991.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the tables.
	
		Hospital and community health services (HCHS) expenditure on medical and dental staff in England: 199192 to 200304
		
			  Total expenditure ( billion) Total NHS expenditure ( billion) Percentage of total expenditure asa proportion of total NHS expenditure 
		
		
			 199192 1.926 25.353 7.60 
			 199293 2.220 27.968 7.94 
			 199394 2.295 28.942 7.93 
			 199495 2.419 30.590 7.91 
			 199596 2.614 31.985 8.17 
			 199697 2.838 32.997 8.60 
			 199798 3.022 34.664 8.72 
			 199899 3.301 36.608 9.02 
			 19992000 3.665 40.201 9.19 
			 200001 4.138 43.932 9.42 
			 200102 4.791 49.021 9.72 
			 200203 5.445 54.042 10.02 
			 200304 6.491 63.667 10.20 
		
	
	
		HCHS expenditure on administration and estates staff in England: 199192 to 200304
		
			  Total expenditure ( billion) Total NHS expenditure ( billion) Percentage of total expenditure as a proportion of total NHS expenditure 
		
		
			 199192 2.035 25.353 8.03 
			 199293 2.125 27.968 7.60 
			 199394 2.432 28.942 8.40 
			 199495 2.555 30.590 8.35 
			 199596 2.747 31.985 8.59 
			 199697 2.899 32.997 8.79 
			 199798 2.962 34.664 8.54 
			 199899 3.122 36.608 8.53 
			 19992000 3.369 40.201 8.45 
			 200001 3.706 43.932 8.43 
			 200102 4.175 49.021 8.47 
			 200203 4.711 54.042 8.67 
			 200304 5.211 63.667 8.18 
		
	
	Notes:
	Administration and estates staff includes:
	Administration and clerical staff.
	Maintenance and works staff.
	Senior managers and managers.
	Total NHS expenditure:
	1. Expenditure pre 19992000 is on a cash basis.
	2. Expenditure figures from 19992000 to 200203 are on a stage 1 resource budgeting basis (and consistent with figures published in tables 3.4a of the Departmental report 2004).
	3. Expenditure for 200304 is on a stage 2 resource budgeting basis (and consistent with table 3.4b of the Departmental report 2004).
	Source of expenditure on medical and dental staff and administration and estates staff:
	1. Annual financial returns of NHS trusts 1991- to 200304.
	2. Annual financial returns of the regional and district health authorities and special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals 199192 to 199596.
	3. Annual financial returns of health authorities 199697 to 200102.
	Annual financial returns of strategic health authorities 200203 to 200304.
	Annual financial returns of primary care trusts 200001 to 200304.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to reduce emergency bed days by 5 per cent. by 2008, through improved care in primary care and community settings for people with long-term conditions will be met;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to ensure that no-one waits more than 18 weeks from general practitioner referral to hospital treatment by 2008 will be met;
	(3)  whether the public service agreement target to guarantee access to a primary care doctor within 48 hours from 2004 has been met;
	(4)  whether the public service agreement target to guarantee access to a primary care professional within 24 hours from 2004 has been met;
	(5)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to make it easier for patients and their general practitioners to choose the hospital and consultant which best meets their needs will be met by the end of 2005;
	(6)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to ensure that every hospital appointment will be booked for the convenience of the patient will be met by the end of 2005;
	(7)  whether the public service agreement target of reducing the proportion of those waiting for over one hour in accident and emergency was met;
	(8)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to reduce the maximum wait for an in-patient appointment to six months will be achieved by the end of 2005;
	(9)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to reduce the maximum wait for an out-patient appointment to three months will be achieved by the end of 2005;
	(10)  whether the public service agreement target to reduce the maximum waiting in accident and emergency from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge to four hours by the end of 2004 was met;
	(11)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to reduce the maximum in-patient and day case waiting time to three months will be achieved by 2008;
	(12)  what recent progress has been made towards the public service agreement target to improve health outcomes for people with long-term conditions by offering a personalised care plan for vulnerable people most at risk.

John Hutton: The Department's autumn performance report, published in December 2004, sets out the latest assessment for delivery of targets agreed as part of the Department's spending review 2002 public service agreement. This report is available in the Library.
	The March 2005 data due for publication in mid May will be the first opportunity to assess sustained delivery of those targets due at the end of 2004.
	Plans for delivery of targets agreed as part of the spending review 2004 are now being developed in discussion with the national health service as part of the process for agreeing local delivery plans for 200508.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to increase the number of older people being supported to live in their own homes by 1 per cent. annually in 2007 and 2008 will be met;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to increase the number of older people supported intensively to live at home to 34 per cent. of the total being supported by social services at home or residential by 2008 will be met;
	(3)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to increase the number of older people supported intensively to live at home to 30 per cent. of the total being supported by social services at home or in residential accommodation will be met by March 2006.

Stephen Ladyman: The public service agreement (PSA) target to increase, by March 2006, the number of those supported intensively to live at home to 30 per cent. of all those being supported by social services at home or in residential care, rose from 29 per cent. to 30 per cent. in 200304; this means the target was met two years ahead of the target date. This PSA target was changed to 34 per cent. by March 2008, following the 2004 spending review. Information for 200405 showing progress towards this target will be available in autumn 2005. The final position on this target will be assessed in the autumn of 2008, when the data for 200708 is available.
	Data are not yet available to assess progress against the PSA target to increase the number of older people being supported to live in their own homes by 1 per cent. annually in 2007 and 2008. The baseline for the target will be calculated for the year 200506 by the end of 2006, when the data are published. We will be able to measure the final position at the end of 2008.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to reduce the mortality rate from suicide and undetermined injury by at least 20 per cent. by 2010 will be met.

Rosie Winterton: The national suicide prevention strategy for England annual report on progress 2004, published on 21 January 2005, stated that the overall death rate from suicide in the most recent period (200103) has fallen to 8.6 deaths per 100,000 population. This marks a reduction of 6 per cent. from the baseline rate in 199597 of 9.2 deaths per 100,000. The rate has been steadily falling for the past five years and if this trend were to continue, the target would be met. The strategy is a co-ordinated set of activities, which will take place over several years and is subject to regular annual review and evaluation. A copy of the annual report has been placed in the Library.